A Killer Comedy: Why freeFall’s 'Deathtrap' Might Be the Most Fun You’ll Have Being Terrified
Ira Levin’s Deathtrap comes to freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg—directed by Matthew McGee and starring Eric Davis in Broadway’s longest-running thriller.
By Avery Anderson | The Arts Passport
On stage at freeFall Theatre through Dec. 7, 2025
You don’t expect to laugh this hard at a murder.
But at freeFall Theatre, that’s exactly the point.
This fall, the St. Pete company known for its fearless storytelling has turned Broadway’s longest-running thriller into an invitation: come for the suspense, stay for the mischief.
Deathtrap—Ira Levin’s twisty, two-act masterclass in deceit—runs October 24 through December 7, directed by Matthew McGee and starring freeFall artistic director Eric Davis alongside Natalie Symons, Sara DelBeato, Robert Teasdale, and John Lombardi.
It’s sharp, funny, and far more dangerous than you remember.
The Setup
Sidney Bruhl (Davis) is a once-famous playwright whose career—and wallet—have flatlined. When a promising student sends him a flawless new script, Sidney sees an opportunity. A collaboration, perhaps. Or maybe something darker.
His wife Myra (Symons) tries to keep him honest. A psychic neighbor (DelBeato) swears she feels “pain coming from this house.” And the audience? They’re in on the joke, at least until the knife turns.
Every scene dares you to guess what’s real. Every laugh hides a trap door.
Scenes from Deathtrap at freeFall Theatre. Eric Davis, Natalie Symons, Robert Teasdale, John Lombardi, and Sara DelBeato star in Ira Levin’s darkly funny thriller, directed by Matthew McGee with scenic and lighting design by Tom Hansen. The production runs through December 7 at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. 📸 Photos by Thee Photo Ninja / courtesy of freeFall Theatre
Why It Works
“Deathtrap is so perfectly constructed,” Symons says. “You peel and peel and there’s always another truth, another lie.”
DelBeato calls it “a perfect formula, a comedy thriller in two acts.”
They’re right. Levin’s script moves like a clock you can hear ticking under your seat—each twist landing with both terror and glee. Even Stephen King once called Levin “the Swiss watchmaker of suspense.”
Director McGee and the cast lean into that balance: part thriller, part satire, all theater magic. The result is a show that makes you gasp, laugh, and glance sideways at your date—sometimes in the same beat.
Why Now
Because the world’s too loud.
“People want to escape without having to unpack anything,” Symons says. “You just want to sit in the dark and have fun.”
And there’s something quietly radical about that right now. In a year when so many headlines mourn the loss of arts institutions, freeFall is offering proof that relevance isn’t only about politics—it’s about joy.
Yes, Deathtrap is a thriller. But it’s also communion. Ninety people in a room, holding their breath together, exhaling at the same moment.
Avery Anderson
The freeFall Factor
If you’ve seen a freeFall show, you know: they don’t just stage plays; they stage experiences.
With scenic and lighting design by Tom Hansen and costuming by Davis himself, Deathtrap turns the company’s intimate black-box space into a Connecticut cottage alive with secrets. Every creak, shadow, and flicker of light is a character of its own.
It’s part Hitchcock, part haunted funhouse—and pure freeFall.
The Cast
- Eric Davis (Sidney Bruhl) – freeFall’s artistic director
- Natalie Symons (Myra Bruhl) – award-winning playwright of Lies in Bone and The People Downstairs
- Sara DelBeato (Helga Ten Dorp) – last seen at freeFall in For Closure!
- Robert Teasdale (Clifford Anderson)
- John Lombardi (Porter Milgrim)
Each performance plays with audience expectation—who’s the victim, who’s the villain, and how much fun can you have before the blood dries.
The Experience
Two acts. Infinite twists.
“Even bad productions of it can still be wonderful,” Symons laughs. “It just works.”
But freeFall’s version is anything but ordinary. It’s slick, sinister, and surprisingly warm—the kind of night where you remember why live theater still wins against streaming true crime.
Because here, you don’t just watch the story unfold. You’re trapped inside it.
Don’t Wait for the Twist
Deathtrap has already sold out several nights. And unlike its characters, these tickets won’t resurrect once they’re gone.
🎭 Deathtrap
📅 Oct. 24 – Dec. 7, 2025
📍 freeFall Theatre | 6099 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
🎟️ Tickets $55 ($25 youth/previews) or included with freeFall’s $29/month subscription
👉 Claim Your Seat Before It’s Too Late → freefalltheatre.com
The Final Twist
What’s the secret ending everyone’s guarding?
We can’t tell you.
But Symons leaves a hint:
“Every time you think you’ve figured it out,” she says, “you realize you haven’t.”
The rest? Classified.
This article was sponsored by freeFall Theatre.