'Deathtrap' comes to Metropolis Centre in Arlington Heights
"Deathtrap," Broadway's longest running comedy thriller, opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, where officials say you should "be prepared for a killer ending."
Its six-week run extends through March 8, with evening and matinee performances.
The Tony-award-winning play, written by Ira Levin, comes to life with an ensemble cast loaded with personality, says director Dan Scott of Des Plaines.
There's Jim Turano of River Forest in the lead role as Sidney Bruhl, a sinking playwright seeking to take drastic measures to turn his career around.
In real life, Turano's most recent gig was on the radio, as one of Garry Meier's sidekicks, on his recent six-month mid-morning show on WCKG 105.9.
Even though the show got axed when the station overhauled its format, Turano is not considering anything so desperate. It merely gave him more time to return to acting, where he's created some memorable roles, including in the "Buddy Holly Story" at the Royal George Theatre, and in "Amadeus" at the Steel Beam Theatre, both in Chicago.
Rolling Meadows resident Stephanie Wootten-Austin plays his supportive wife, Myra. Audiences may remember her in "Steel Magnolias" at Metropolis where she played the timid salon assistant coming off a troubled marriage.
Rounding out the cast is Walter Betz of Bloomingdale, formerly known as Walter Biezchad until he changed his name in the process of getting his Actor's Equity card. Betz plays the student and aspiring playwright, whose brilliant new play drives many of the twists and turns in the plot.
Ron Porter of Sleepy Hollow plays Bruhl's meddling attorney and Christine Cummings of Chicago, as Helga, plays the psychic neighbor.
Scott last directed "Dates from Hell," the new play that debuted at Metropolis and featured Wootten-Austin among others, but over the years he has adapted the "Christmas Carol" and "Little Women" for the Arlington Heights performing arts center.
"This is something of a period piece, set in the late '70s," Scott said. "But it still works well because of the suspense, with all of its twists and turns, and the interesting characters."
Still, Scott knows that thrillers work best if they move quickly, and keep audience members on the edge of their seats.
"If it's slow, it's deadly," he quips.
Consequently, he worked first with the actors to find the characterization in their roles, before turning to the full production to push the action along, to keep the tempo and rhythm moving.
"Thrillers are plot driven, so we had to kick it along," Scott says. "But I think people will be pleased with the outcome."
"Deathtrap" is the second show in this year's Metropolis season; opening with "High School Musical" in September. The season continues March 20 with the romantic comedy about a dog, called "Sylvia" and winds up with "The Musical of Musicals, The Musical," opening May 15.
If you go
What: "Deathtrap"
Where: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 110 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights
When: Opens at 7:30 tonight, and continues with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 7 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through March 8, with matinees at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 14.
Cost: $22-42
For tickets: (847) 577-2121 or visit metropolisarts.com