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Review: ‘Deathtrap’ is a tale to confuse and question

Sidney Bruhl, left and played by Jordan Hornstein, talks to Clifford Anderson, right and played by Tyler Nye, in Thursday's dress rehearsal of Deathtrap at the Pendragon Theatre. (Enterprise photo — Kevin Shea)

Assume nothing; everything is permitted.

The motto of a fictional assassin group could double as the motto for Pendragon Theatre’s new play, “Deathtrap,” which premieres at 8 p.m. tonight.

The first scene of “Deathtrap” warns the audience not to predict. A shock reveal in Thursday night’s dress rehearsal elicited gasps from the audience, showing that the warning had gone unheard and will likely be ineffective to those who see it through Aug. 20.

“Deathtrap,” written in 1978 by Ira Levin, imitates itself. A script for a play lands on the desk of Sidney Bruhl, a washed-up playwright played by Jordan Hornstein. The script is titled “Deathtrap.”

From then on, “Deathtrap,” the script, is used as a tool and an omen. It serves as a desired tangible — like the one ring in “Lord of The Rings.” It is the destroyer of free will, and it is the blank check upon which countless characters hope to cash in to fulfill their greed.

The play continues its likeness in popular entertainment with the violent franchise “Saw.” Like “Saw,” the play consists of few characters — five to be exact — and also takes place in just one room, although nicer than the murky basement setting of “Saw.” The similarities continue as the death toll is high, which is not unexpected when an entire wall supports an arsenal of medieval weaponry including a crossbow, a mace and a battle ax. But this thriller differs in its comedic aspect, of which there is none in “Saw” and plenty of in “Deathtrap.”

This play excites one’s inner detective, tickles one’s imagination, evokes laughter and forces out a gasp or two.

When you enter the cozy, well-lit Pendragon Theatre, transport to Westport, Connecticut, and prepare to meet a cast including an elderly couple, an eager student, an exotic psychic and a lawyer — not much to say about the lawyer.

The wild trip that forces audience members to second-guess themselves ultimately boils down to one question — a question that plagues reality TV show participants, quiz show contestants and society in general: What would you do to be rich?

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