Mystery - glamgical

International City Theatre presents Deathtrap. Written by Ira Levin. Directed by Jamie Torcellini. Produced by caryn desai [sic].

Mystery and humor are combined to create a play with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience wondering who will be killed next. Since the beginning, Sidney Bruhl (Geoffrey Lower) gives off a strange vibe, an uncomfortable sense of danger and violence. With a devilish sense of humor, that is. His wife Myra (Jill Remez) seems to perceive the same tension in the air. When Clifford Anderson (Coby Rogers), Sidney’s previous student, shows up with the script of what Sydney thinks would be a Broadway hit, things turn upside down and the real danger starts to emerge.

Playwright Ira Levin also wrote Rosemary’s Baby, a horror novel turned into a famous film in the late 60s. Even tough Deathtrap combines mystery and humor that makes it lighter than Rosemary’s Baby, the play has some pretty intense moments. Lower, Rogers, and Remez do a fantastic job bringing out the violence and humor of the script to make the audience feel on edge in a fun and scary way.

The writing is excellent; it keeps the sense of wonder all the way through. The direction by Jamie Torricelli, The Legend of Georgia McBride, is on point, with a great use of the space and presenting an amazing scenic (Fred Kinney), music (Dave Mickey), and lighting (Crystal R. Shomph) design to reinforce the mystery of the story. This is a unique opportunity to experience what Dr. Julia Wilkins calls “relief theory”, the phenomenon of getting scared with laughter. It’s the perfect show for this Halloween season.

Deathtrap

International City Theatre
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
330 East Seaside Way
Long Beach, CA 90802

Performances: Oct. 20 – Nov. 5
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 26, Nov. 2
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 20 (Opening Night), Oct. 27, Nov. 3
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 28, Nov. 4
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Oct. 29, Nov. 5

Tickets: ictlongbeach.org

Written by Ira Levin Directed by Jamie Torcellini. Starring Michelle Holmes, Geoffrey Lower, Jill Remez, Coby Rogers, and Patrick Vest. Produced by caryn desai [sic]. Presented by International City Theatre. Creative team: Set designer Fred Kinney, lighting designer Crystal R. Shomph, costume designer Kim DeShazo, sound designer Dave Mickey and prop designers Patty and Gordon Briles. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA and Richie Ferris, CSA. The production stage manager is Donna R. Parsons.

White Horse Theater Company in association with 134 West presents Broken Story. Written by Cyndy A. Marion. Directed by Tamara Ruppart.

It’s the late 90s in Los Angeles and Jess (Lindsay Danielle Gitter), a journalist from the New York Today, flew from New York to investigate the murder of Jane Hartman (Lynn Adrianna Freedman), a novelist and daughter of a mobster. Jane was a close friend of Johnny Klein, a construction mogul whose wife, Helen Klein, disappeared mysteriously in 1971.

In Los Angeles, Jess meets Kip Watson (David Hunter Jr.), Jane’s manager, and Darby (Liana Aráuz, Theatre Review: Detained), a socialite and Jane’s best friend. As these characters interact with each other, Jess’ imagination blends with reality in a space where Jane appears occasionally, telling Jess her complicated relationships with Kip, Darby, and the Kleins.

Jess herself, has a story to tell. She grew up rich in New York and since an early age she has been oddly interested in the lives of Johnny and Helen Klein and the life of Jane Hartman. Jess is also in a romantic relationship with Eddie (Rod Sweitzer), her Editor at the New York Today. Jane’s tragic death—a single shot in the back of the head—will reveal unexpected news to Jess that will alter her life forever.

The combination of reality and imagination offers an interesting interaction among the characters in a stage where the lighting (Katelan Braymer, lighting designer) plays an important role. The light changes set the mood and serve as smooth transitions between scenes, highlighting the mystery, the emotions, and the supernatural aspect of the story.

Director Tamara Ruppart delivers an entertaining play where the kinetics, the dynamic relationships among the characters, and the creative elements all work together to portray Jess’ enigmatic world of reality and imagination.

Broken Story

Written by Cyndy A. Marion. Directed by Tamara Ruppart. Cast: Lindsay Danielle Gitter, Lynn Adrianna Freedman, David Hunter Jr., Liana Aráuz, and Rod Sweitzer. Executive Producer Vanessa R. Bombardieri. Co-Producer Susan Lambert Hatem (134 West). Creative team: Scenic designer Andis Gjoni, Lighting Designer Katelan Braymer, Costume Designer Derek Nye Lockwood, Sound Designer Andy Evan Cohen, Incidental Music Joe Gianono, Projection Polaroid Photography Gail Thacker, Dramaturg Linda S. Nelson, and Stage Manager Hannah Raymond.