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Deathtrap: A Thriller in Two Acts
Seemingly comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a "dry" spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds.
A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit.
Sidney's plan, which he devises with his wife's help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts.
Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.
A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit.
Sidney's plan, which he devises with his wife's help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts.
Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
38 people are currently reading
3624 people want to read
About the author
Ira Levin
75 books1,721 followersLevin graduated from the Horace Mann School and New York University, where he majored in philosophy and English.
After college, he wrote training films and scripts for television.
Levin's first produced play was No Time for Sergeants (adapted from Mac Hyman's novel), a comedy about a hillbilly drafted into the United States Air Force that launched the career of Andy Griffith. The play was turned into a movie in 1958, and co-starred Don Knotts, Griffith's long-time co-star and friend. No Time for Sergeants is generally considered the precursor to Gomer Pyle, USMC.
Levin's first novel, A Kiss Before Dying, was well received, earning him the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. A Kiss Before Dying was turned into a movie twice, first in 1956, and again in 1991.
Levin's best known play is Deathtrap, which holds the record as the longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway and brought Levin his second Edgar Award. In 1982, it was made into a film starring Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine.
Levin's best known novel is Rosemary's Baby, a horror story of modern day satanism and the occult, set in Manhattan's Upper West Side. It was made into a film starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance. Roman Polanski, who wrote and directed the film, was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Other Levin novels were turned into movies, including The Boys from Brazil in 1978; The Stepford Wives in 1975 and again in 2004; and Sliver in 1993.
Stephen King has described Ira Levin as "the Swiss watchmaker of suspense novels, he makes what the rest of us do look like cheap watchmakers in drugstores." Chuck Palahniuk, in , calls Levin's writing "a smart, updated version of the kind of folksy legends that cultures have always used."
Ira Levin died from a heart attack at his home in Manhattan, on 12 November 2007. He was seventy-eight at the time of his death.
After college, he wrote training films and scripts for television.
Levin's first produced play was No Time for Sergeants (adapted from Mac Hyman's novel), a comedy about a hillbilly drafted into the United States Air Force that launched the career of Andy Griffith. The play was turned into a movie in 1958, and co-starred Don Knotts, Griffith's long-time co-star and friend. No Time for Sergeants is generally considered the precursor to Gomer Pyle, USMC.
Levin's first novel, A Kiss Before Dying, was well received, earning him the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. A Kiss Before Dying was turned into a movie twice, first in 1956, and again in 1991.
Levin's best known play is Deathtrap, which holds the record as the longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway and brought Levin his second Edgar Award. In 1982, it was made into a film starring Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine.
Levin's best known novel is Rosemary's Baby, a horror story of modern day satanism and the occult, set in Manhattan's Upper West Side. It was made into a film starring Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance. Roman Polanski, who wrote and directed the film, was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Other Levin novels were turned into movies, including The Boys from Brazil in 1978; The Stepford Wives in 1975 and again in 2004; and Sliver in 1993.
Stephen King has described Ira Levin as "the Swiss watchmaker of suspense novels, he makes what the rest of us do look like cheap watchmakers in drugstores." Chuck Palahniuk, in , calls Levin's writing "a smart, updated version of the kind of folksy legends that cultures have always used."
Ira Levin died from a heart attack at his home in Manhattan, on 12 November 2007. He was seventy-eight at the time of his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
February 27, 2024
Entertaining and twisty. Deathtrap contains one of the “eight perfect murders” featured in Peter Swanson's (aptly-named) Eight Perfect Murders, and I'm working my way through all eight before I read the Swanson novel. I was initially a little disappointed when I realized that this one was a play, but it actually ended up being quite enjoyable. There are twists and turns and backstabbing and humor and even a little bit of … ESP? (That part I was certainly not expecting.) Four stars – this is a fun, quick read that'll leave your head spinning.
May 30, 2021
هاها!
منو یاد نایوز اوت انداخت و توی همون سبکه
اکت اول رو فوقالعاده دوس داشتم ولی حس میکنم توی اکت دوم کمی افت کرد
در ضمن اگه اقتباس سینمایی سیدنی لومت رو نمیدیدم احتمالاً یه چیزهاییش برام غیرمنطقی میشد و فکر میکنم به خاطر سانسور باشه و دیدن فیلم توصیه میشه
منو یاد نایوز اوت انداخت و توی همون سبکه
اکت اول رو فوقالعاده دوس داشتم ولی حس میکنم توی اکت دوم کمی افت کرد
در ضمن اگه اقتباس سینمایی سیدنی لومت رو نمیدیدم احتمالاً یه چیزهاییش برام غیرمنطقی میشد و فکر میکنم به خاطر سانسور باشه و دیدن فیلم توصیه میشه
June 1, 2016
Ha! What a set-up! If you like plays and want to read an ingenious and suspenseful multi-layered murder-mystery play about a murder-mystery play (x 3 or was it 4 ?) with just a touch of humor, you'll find it here in DEATHTRAP.
SLICK!
March 28, 2022
اتاق ورونیکا از آیرا لوین رو خوندین؟
بچه رزماری رو چطور؟
پسران برزیل رو هم پس نخوندین لابد :/
اما شکار مرگ رو دیگه بخونید، یا بشنوید.
توی فیدی پلاس نسخه صوتیش هست و بسیار جذاب اجرا شده.
تا امروز، به عقیده من اتاق ورونیکا اثر ترسناک تر، پیچیده تر و روانشناسانه تری بوده نسیت به بقیه آثاری که از این نویسنده خوندم، اما شکار مرگ معروفترین و پرطرفدار ترین اثرشه ظاهرا. نمیفهمم چرا واقعا!
این نمایشنامه رگه های طنز هم داره، خب شاید بخاطر همینه محبوبتره.
خلاصه خوندن کارهای آیرا لوین خیلی تجربه باحالیه و پیشنهادشون میکنم. اما اما مک دونا همچنان نظیر نداره :))))
بچه رزماری رو چطور؟
پسران برزیل رو هم پس نخوندین لابد :/
اما شکار مرگ رو دیگه بخونید، یا بشنوید.
توی فیدی پلاس نسخه صوتیش هست و بسیار جذاب اجرا شده.
تا امروز، به عقیده من اتاق ورونیکا اثر ترسناک تر، پیچیده تر و روانشناسانه تری بوده نسیت به بقیه آثاری که از این نویسنده خوندم، اما شکار مرگ معروفترین و پرطرفدار ترین اثرشه ظاهرا. نمیفهمم چرا واقعا!
این نمایشنامه رگه های طنز هم داره، خب شاید بخاطر همینه محبوبتره.
خلاصه خوندن کارهای آیرا لوین خیلی تجربه باحالیه و پیشنهادشون میکنم. اما اما مک دونا همچنان نظیر نداره :))))
March 15, 2024
My second time reading this clever and suspenseful play.
Deathtrap. A thriller in two acts. One set, five characters. A juicy murder in Act One, unexpected developments in Act Two. Sound construction, good dialogue, laughs in the right places. Highly commercial.
The damn thing is perfect.
Sidney Bruhl, a once successful playwright of murder/mysteries and thrillers, has lost his mojo. When he receives a very promising manuscript from one of his students asking his opinion, sinister notions enter Sidney’s head.
Deathtrap. A thriller in two acts. One set, five characters. A juicy murder in Act One, unexpected developments in Act Two. Sound construction, good dialogue, laughs in the right places. Highly commercial.
The damn thing is perfect.
Sidney Bruhl, a once successful playwright of murder/mysteries and thrillers, has lost his mojo. When he receives a very promising manuscript from one of his students asking his opinion, sinister notions enter Sidney’s head.
June 11, 2021
انتظارم از آیرا لوین بیشتر بود. نمایشنامه به نظرم یک تریلر بود، یعنی همون چیزی که انگار در خود متن داره مسخره میشه
June 17, 2024
شکار مرگ، نمایش در دل نمایش، جذاب شروع میشه ، هیجان کافی هم برای جذب خواننده داره به اوج میرسونه، توقع و انتظار رو برای یک شوک دیگه بالا میبره اما از نیمه ی راه دچار سقوط ناامید کننده ای میشه...
August 6, 2021
بعد از خواندن اتاق ورونیکا، تصمیم جدی گرفتم که شکار مرگ رو هم حتما بخوانم.
از آنجایی که در نقدها خوانده بودم بهترین نمایشنامهی "لوین" هست، تصور میکردم که یه سر و گردن از اتاق ورونیکا بالاتره؛ ولی نه تنها بالاتر نبود که غافلگیریها و تحلیل های روانشناسانهش به مراتب کمتر بود و از سطح انتظارات من پایین تر.
۱۴۰۰/۱/۸
از آنجایی که در نقدها خوانده بودم بهترین نمایشنامهی "لوین" هست، تصور میکردم که یه سر و گردن از اتاق ورونیکا بالاتره؛ ولی نه تنها بالاتر نبود که غافلگیریها و تحلیل های روانشناسانهش به مراتب کمتر بود و از سطح انتظارات من پایین تر.
۱۴۰۰/۱/۸
September 20, 2015
This was an entertaining play with a good amount of suspense! I was completely ignorant of this play previously, so the various twists and turns were quite surprising. I enjoyed the bit of humor sprinkled throughout as well. A play-within-a-play, Deathtrap kept me guessing which parts were “real”, which characters were actually the good guys and which were the bad. The psychic next door was a nice addition to the plot and added a bit of interest as well. I wasn’t thrilled with the last scene and believe I would have preferred the ending to occur in the second to last scene; just seemed a bit odd in my opinion. I think I would have enjoyed this more as a live production, but the written rendition was definitely a great diversion. I recommend this play to anyone looking for a fun and quick thriller. 3.5 stars.
September 17, 2020
A play-within-a-play, Deathtrap is a classic play-within-a play, which keeps readers wondering what's real and what's pretend. The occasional humor and the psychic living nearby augmented my reading enjoyment. However, the second act was one scene too long (of three.)
August 4, 2024
ولی من "اتاق ورونیکا" بیشتر دوست داشتم.🫠
April 15, 2023
بهاندازهی اتاق ورونیکا بهم نچسبید. از پردهی دوم به بعد گیجکنندگی و پیچشی داره که فهمیدنش خیلی سخت نیست ولی خوشایند هم نیست. سیدنی لومت از روی این نمایشنامه فیلمی به همین اسم (deathtrap) ساخته که دیدنش خالی از لطف نیست اما پردهی دوم-صحنهی سوم (آخر) نمایشنامه با فیلم تفاوت داره که من پایانبندی نمایشنامه رو خیلی بیشتر دوست داشتم.
April 15, 2022
در اصل ۳.۵
اجرای صوتیش رو توی فیدی پلاس گوش کردم و اعتراف میکنم که اجرای صوتی بینظیری بود:)
خود نمایشنامه خیلی متوسطه یعنی اگر اتاق ورونیکا رو از همین نویسنده خونده باشید توقع خیلی بالاتری ازش دارین! ولی خب در نهایت ایده جالبی داره😅
اگه نمایشنامه دوست دارین بشنوید یا بخونیدش و لذت ببرید!
اجرای صوتیش رو توی فیدی پلاس گوش کردم و اعتراف میکنم که اجرای صوتی بینظیری بود:)
خود نمایشنامه خیلی متوسطه یعنی اگر اتاق ورونیکا رو از همین نویسنده خونده باشید توقع خیلی بالاتری ازش دارین! ولی خب در نهایت ایده جالبی داره😅
اگه نمایشنامه دوست دارین بشنوید یا بخونیدش و لذت ببرید!
September 11, 2024
بعد از اتاق ورونیکا، این دومین نمایشنامه بود که از آیرا لوین میخوندم. اتاق ورونیکا رو خییییلی دوست داشتم و واقعا من رو غافلگیر کرد! و به جرات میتونم بگم شکار مرگ حتی از اتاق ورونیکا هم بهتر بود.
در حین خوندن کتاب با خودم میگفتم خب مشخصه در ادامه چی میشه.. و بعد که جلوتر میرفت چنان غافلگیر میشدم که باورم نمیشد!
خلاصه که امیدوارم بقیه نمایشنامه ها و کتابهای لوین هم ترجمه و چاپ بشه تا باز هم لذت واقعی خوندن سبک تریلر رو تجربه کنیم.
در حین خوندن کتاب با خودم میگفتم خب مشخصه در ادامه چی میشه.. و بعد که جلوتر میرفت چنان غافلگیر میشدم که باورم نمیشد!
خلاصه که امیدوارم بقیه نمایشنامه ها و کتابهای لوین هم ترجمه و چاپ بشه تا باز هم لذت واقعی خوندن سبک تریلر رو تجربه کنیم.
February 23, 2021
خیلیا بر این باورَن که بهترین نمایشنامه اش شکار مرگه ولی شما جدی نگیرید اتاق ورونیکا بهتره :)
November 19, 2024
امتیاز ۳.۷
نمایش نامه قشنگی بود و در واقع میتونم بگم امتیازش ۴ میتونه باشه ولی چون برای من ایدش تکراری بود بهش ۳.۷ دادم 🙈
نمایش نامه قشنگی بود و در واقع میتونم بگم امتیازش ۴ میتونه باشه ولی چون برای من ایدش تکراری بود بهش ۳.۷ دادم 🙈
May 19, 2020
شکارِ مرگ ، نمایشنامهیست پیچیده و تو در تو
که مخاطب در طول نمایشنامه فکر میکند قدمِ بعدی را به درستی حدس زده ،
اما آیرا لوین ، تلهی دیگر نمایشنامه را رو میکند و به مخاطب رو ��ست میزند
و زمانی که در پایان فکر میکنیم دیگر همهچیز را فهمیدهایم ،
در آخرین صحنه ، لوین آخرین تلهی خود را آشکار میسازد
و این نکته را یادآور میشود که در دنیای من ،
مخاطب نیز مانند شخصیتها بازی داده خواهد شد !
که مخاطب در طول نمایشنامه فکر میکند قدمِ بعدی را به درستی حدس زده ،
اما آیرا لوین ، تلهی دیگر نمایشنامه را رو میکند و به مخاطب رو ��ست میزند
و زمانی که در پایان فکر میکنیم دیگر همهچیز را فهمیدهایم ،
در آخرین صحنه ، لوین آخرین تلهی خود را آشکار میسازد
و این نکته را یادآور میشود که در دنیای من ،
مخاطب نیز مانند شخصیتها بازی داده خواهد شد !
September 9, 2024
I've read Ira Levin's 'A Kiss Before Dying', 'Rosemary's Baby', and 'This Perfect Day' before, and now this, and I'm afraid he was not the kindest of men. I think he's a brilliant storyteller, all of these stories are highly captivating, it's just that there's something morbid about all of them and most of the characters are to various extents unlikeable.
That said, this was not an unenjoyable read. As it often happens, I liked the beginning more than the ending, or rather, I thought the first act was funnier and more intriguing than the second one.
There's also a worthy adaptation of this with Michael Caine, and all-in-all this was quite a successful read-and-watch. A good choice for a book club or buddy-read; maybe not as deep as it gets, but you'll certainly have something to talk about.
There's a medium in the play, but
That said, this was not an unenjoyable read. As it often happens, I liked the beginning more than the ending, or rather, I thought the first act was funnier and more intriguing than the second one.
There's also a worthy adaptation of this with Michael Caine, and all-in-all this was quite a successful read-and-watch. A good choice for a book club or buddy-read; maybe not as deep as it gets, but you'll certainly have something to talk about.
There's a medium in the play, but
December 13, 2024
یک نمایشنامه دوپردهای از آیرا لِوین که نمایشنامه در نمایشنامه بود.
من اتاق ورونیکا رو خیلی بیشتر دوست داشتم و بهترین اثر لِوین برام اتاق ورونیکا است نه شکارِ مرگ.
هرچند یه مقدار طنز خاصی در این نمایشنامه به کار رفته ولی در اون تعلیق و دلهره اصلا به اتاق ورونیکا نمیرسه.
در اواخر نمایشنامه هم خیلی پرشها زیاد شده بود و اون تعلیق و غافلگیری اتاق ورونیکا رو نداشت.
من اتاق ورونیکا رو خیلی بیشتر دوست داشتم و بهترین اثر لِوین برام اتاق ورونیکا است نه شکارِ مرگ.
هرچند یه مقدار طنز خاصی در این نمایشنامه به کار رفته ولی در اون تعلیق و دلهره اصلا به اتاق ورونیکا نمیرسه.
در اواخر نمایشنامه هم خیلی پرشها زیاد شده بود و اون تعلیق و غافلگیری اتاق ورونیکا رو نداشت.
May 6, 2022
اتاق ورونیکا رو بیشتر دوس داشتم تا این اثرش🌝
January 9, 2021
This is a fun read. I recommend watching the movie too.
November 25, 2020
میگن ارتکاب جنایت روی کاغذ،باعث دفع تمایلات خصمانهست.منم قبول دارم که همینطوره.اگرچه همون موقع این فکر به ذهن آدم خطور میکنه که مرتکب یه قتل واقعی بشه.آدم رو وسوسه میکنه که ارزش انجام دادنش رو داره.
August 14, 2022
صوتیش رو تو فیدیبو گوش کردم، اجرای نمایشنامه قوی بود.
اولین پلات توئیست واقعا شکهکننده بود، ولی از اون به بعد قابل حدس بود. حداقل برای من!
قشنگ بود، ولی در حد ۳ ستاره نه بیشتر.
شروع: جمعه 1401.05.21 ساعت 12:55 نصف شب
پایان: یکشنبه 1401.05.23 ساعت 4:26 صبح
اولین پلات توئیست واقعا شکهکننده بود، ولی از اون به بعد قابل حدس بود. حداقل برای من!
قشنگ بود، ولی در حد ۳ ستاره نه بیشتر.
شروع: جمعه 1401.05.21 ساعت 12:55 نصف شب
پایان: یکشنبه 1401.05.23 ساعت 4:26 صبح
June 14, 2020
Lucky are the ones, Who could Watch the play !!
I wish I can see this one performed too once in my lifetime!!!
Solid Plot..
With a Splendid plot, the author has served a "très bon plat" of humor and witty lines( I hope i got the French right!!!)
This is not a book, but a play that boasts to be a longest running and after reading it, I don't doubt their claim.
Read it as, this was a part of Rules for Perfect Murders !
I wish I can see this one performed too once in my lifetime!!!
Solid Plot..
With a Splendid plot, the author has served a "très bon plat" of humor and witty lines( I hope i got the French right!!!)
This is not a book, but a play that boasts to be a longest running and after reading it, I don't doubt their claim.
Read it as, this was a part of Rules for Perfect Murders !
November 17, 2019
A whole lot of fun, an equal amount of creepy, and a pinch of wtf is going on here.
I've never enjoyed reading a play, after having already seen it, as much as I enjoyed this one, and that's saying something because I don't usually read plays.
But this one is highly recommended for people who like metafiction and mind games as this is a story within a story pretending to be an imitation of a play for the purpose of carrying out the perfect murder. You'll never guess who dies, who really dies, who's behind it all, or why. Well, unless you've seen the play or read a couple of the reviews on the book page. Seriously, people, there's a spoiler html script for a reason.
So, yeah, give this one a try. Hard copies might be hard to find, but I'm sure your local library has a few that haven't been checked out in years.
* * * *
If you don't mind spoilers and are in the mood for something funny,
Originally posted at http://covers2covers.wordpress.com/20...
I've never enjoyed reading a play, after having already seen it, as much as I enjoyed this one, and that's saying something because I don't usually read plays.
But this one is highly recommended for people who like metafiction and mind games as this is a story within a story pretending to be an imitation of a play for the purpose of carrying out the perfect murder. You'll never guess who dies, who really dies, who's behind it all, or why. Well, unless you've seen the play or read a couple of the reviews on the book page. Seriously, people, there's a spoiler html script for a reason.
So, yeah, give this one a try. Hard copies might be hard to find, but I'm sure your local library has a few that haven't been checked out in years.
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If you don't mind spoilers and are in the mood for something funny,
Originally posted at http://covers2covers.wordpress.com/20...
February 4, 2022
نمایشنامه شنیدنی شکارمرگ، کمدی چند لایه جنایی با اجرای فوق العاده به کارگردانی اشکان عقیلی پور
02:42:16
02:42:16
March 6, 2022
40+ years on, it still holds up.
April 4, 2022
ترجمه خوبی داره، من بشدت خوشم اومد و میرم سراغ اتاق ورونیکا
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