The 2025–2026 season of Kanata Theatre opened this week with a terrific staging of Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, directed by Michael Gareau. This clever thriller is sure to convince any fence-sitters to trade single tickets for a five-play subscription—and frankly, you should anyway, since it remains the best bargain in town.
First premiering in 1978, Deathtrap went on to become one of Broadway’s longest-running thrillers before making the leap to Hollywood in a film adaptation starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.
Community theatre doesn’t have the luxury of big names or big budgets, but Kanata Theatre makes up for it with creativity and ingenuity. David Magladry’s set design is a standout: a Connecticut country estate that doubles as a menacing medieval manor, complete with stone fireplace, French doors that lead to a leafy patio and enough swords and weapons to rival a museum display. The set becomes a character in itself, heightening the suspense.
The play opens with Tim Mabey as Sidney Bruhl, a washed-up playwright dressed like a country gentleman but revealed quickly as a dishonest schemer. Chrissy Hollands brings warmth and poise to Myra, Sidney’s wife, though her willingness to overlook his cruelty underscores her own moral compromises.
Lighting and sound are deftly handled throughout. The typewriter soundtrack during scene changes is particularly effective—a sharp reminder of Sidney’s faded career. The accompanying side-stage projections, often distracting in previous productions, are used successfully here.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jenny Pfitzer as Helga ten Dorp with Tim Mabey as Sidney Bruhl; Tim Mabey; Jesse Lalonde as Clifford Anderson with Rob Johnstone as Porter Milgrim; and Tim Mabey with his stage wife, Chrissy Hollands. (Photos: Alex Henkelman Photography)
Jesse Lalonde, as the eager young writer Clifford Anderson, brings vigour and confidence to the role. His ’70s wardrobe—striped pants, silky necktie, and Western boots—evokes Rob Reiner’s “Meathead” from All in the Family and somehow works, fueling his energy on stage.
Comic relief arrives with Jenny Pfitzer as psychic neighbour Helga ten Dorp. Her flamboyant costumes draw laughs even before she speaks, and by her later scenes, the audience is chuckling in anticipation of every entrance. Rounding out the cast is Rob Johnstone as Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s lawyer and friend, whose moral compass proves just as shaky as his client’s.
Though none of the characters escape their flaws, the play triumphs as a witty, twist-filled thriller rather than a moral tale. Gareau’s direction, supported by a strong cast and design team, delivers a polished, entertaining night at the theatre.
Deathtrap runs nightly (except for September 15) through September 20, 2025. Tickets are available at kanatatheatre.ca or by calling the box office at 613-831-4435 — and once you’ve seen this one, you’ll be hooked for the rest of the season.
Photos: Alex Henkelman Photography
