Deathtrap (review). Anne Cox watches the opening at The Grove Theatre.

Audiences at Dunstable’s Grove Theatre were made of sterner stuff when Talking Scarlet’s stage production dropped by for a two-night run, but it still came as a bit of an eye-opener if you weren’t expecting it.

The multi award-winning Deathtrap is full of twists, turns and sleights-of-hand. It’s everything a good thriller should be and, considering it was written 35 years ago, it stands up surprisingly well – even if the play’s ending had been tinkered with.

I remember having a bit of a crush on the tall, blond, Stephen Beckett when he appeared, firstly in The Bill as long-running character PC Mike Jarvis and then as dishy doctor Matt Ramsden in Corrie.

It was obvious that the years have been kind to him (although over-long floppy hair, which he had to continually swish out of his eyes, and a goatee made him resemble Richard Branson) when he appeared in the Caine role of failing playwright Sidney Bruhl.

It’s so refreshing to see that some soap actors really can hack it on the stage. Beckett’s powerful and confident performance as the central character drives this pacy story along and he looked comfortable as a leading man.

Bruhl is British, flamboyant, attention-seeking, desperate, ambitious, and, as it turns out, hiding something in his closet. He plans, plots and betrays in a bid to get the success he craves.

His wife, Myra (Jo Castleton), was little more than window dressing and the thriller was primarily played out between the writer, his young protégé Clifford Anderson (great performance by Griffin Stevens), and an eccentric neighbour who happened to be a rather famous TV Dutch psychic called Helga ten Dorp.

Claire Vousden’s cameo as the quite batty medium was enjoyably over the top.

The action all takes place in the living room of an east-coast American house where Bruhl’s past successes and props from his murder mysteries decorate the wall. Myra asks her husband how far he’ll go for another successful play. Would he commit murder?

Audiences in Friday and Saturday nights know the answer to that.

Look out for Talking Scarlet’s next production, Brian Clemens’ Murder Weapon.

@LBOanne