A secluded chalet high in the French Alps becomes occupied by a newlywed couple, what could go wrong? According to Robert Thomas’ Trap for a Lonely Man, the answer is plenty! Directed by Kevin Shaver, this production of Thomas’ genre-defining work confounds and delights with a twisty plot that’ll keep you guessing.

As it is a comedy thriller, I’ll have to keep quite a bit of the plot of Trap for a Lonely Man to myself; I’d hate to ruin the ending for anyone! The story begins with The Man in this beautiful Chalet in a panic searching for his missing wife. The Police Inspector comes for personal visits to try and assuage The Man’s fears over his missing wife. When The Priest from the village arrives to inform The Man that his wife has indeed been found! But when The Woman arrives, The Man knows instantaneously that this is NOT his wife, yet no one believes him! Despite attempts to find witnesses and strange behaviour on the parts of The Priest and The Woman, The Police Inspector never seems to be in the right place at the right time. Intricately woven with an intense ending, Trap for a Lonely Man keeps you in the dark until its final moments.

Trap for a Lonely Man is a work in translation, and there was part of me which wondered how much has been lost in that translation to English, especially in regards to the pacing and comedy. I feel like the pacing of this production was off; if it’s a comedy thriller, I would expect it to be paced like a farce but with the plot of a thriller. There were certainly moments with great laughter, and then others which could have been more funny with some fine tuning. The bar and desk being so far away from the couch, which is central to the set and action, also don’t help with the pauses and breaks which were taken as the actors traversed the space. Both comedies and thrillers utilize over-the-top characters to tell their stories, but this production didn’t fully capitalize on that aspect; there were even clues in the dialogue that support this more hyperbolic style, but that’s not what’s being delivered. The story itself is wildly intriguing and certainly keeps you wanting more, but for the comedy side of things to work correctly I think the original French might be more funny.

One area where this production excelled was in the design; everything from the set and props to the costumes and hair immediately put us in the 60’s. The old skis and deer head on the wall immediately let us know that it’s a sporting lodge of some sort, while the rotary phone and patterned sofa solidified its era. The costumes, particularly for The Woman, are masterfully done in terms of the correct era. I also really like The Police Inspector’s outfit; he immediately reminded me of the officers in “Tin Tin” or “Hugo.”

The cast of Trap for a Lonely Man delivers some gripping and delightful performances. Enzo Voci stars as The Man, and while he has his character maintain a fairly cool head throughout the story, he really comes alive in the final moments of the production. Makenzie Hay’s The Woman is two-faced and tricksy, and Hay delivers this with vivacity and flair. Her little looks and gestures elicit great reactions from the audience. The Police Inspector is brought to life by Brad Finch, who also really gives it his all as he delivers the final solution to the “mystery” he’s been working to solve. Jamie Sherman gives a cheeky performance as the priest; like The Woman, many of his most comical moments are down to glances and movements which he also performs so well. While Julie Jarrett’s The Nurse doesn’t have much stage time, she certainly leaves an impression with the time she has! Rounding out the cast is by far the most funny and outlandish character, The Tramp, portrayed by Ali Jiwani. His stereotypical portrayal of an artiste was delightful; I only wish we could have had more stage time with him!

If you’re a fan of “Murdoch Mysteries” or Agatha Christie, this is certainly the show for you! Running until April 27th at the Scarborough Village Theatre, you’ll certainly want to get caught up in this trap! For more information and tickets, visit: https://theatrescarborough.com/scarborough-theatre-guild/productions/trap-for-a-lonely-man/

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Cover Photo: L – R: Makenzie Hay, Jamie Sherman, Brad Finch, Enzo Voci, and Julie Jarrett. Photo by Julia Adams.

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