Jonathan Groff's "Deathtrap" Trailer

Jonathan Groff in Deathtrap

Here is something you don't often see: a slick theatrical trailer for a play. In fact, it's so slick you could easily mistake it for a film preview. 

Starting in September, out actor Jonathan Groff will be appearing in the London West End revival of Ira Levin's Deathtrap. You can get an advance peek of him and co-stars Claire Skinner and Simon Russell Beale right here:

Deathtrap originally opened on Broadway in 1978 and, at the risk of giving too much away, had a fairly shocking gay twist. For its time at least. I'm curious how that will play to modern audiences.

After watching this trailer I almost wish they were doing a movie remake instead. The 1982 film starred Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, and a young Christopher Reeve.  That movie contained a controversial gay kiss which was not actually in the Broadway production. (And they left that kiss in even after preview audiences at the time booed it.) Will such a kiss be in the new London stage production when it wasn't in the Broadway production? Inquiring minds want to know.

Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve in Deathtrap (1982)

Previews for Deathtrap begin August 20 at the Noël Coward Theatre in London. The show opens Tuesday, September 7th.