Intentions Deadly, Cast Game

SOLANA BEACH —  Poor American traveling salesman Howard Trapp. First a storm strands him in a mysterious house in the Swiss Alps, then his host cajoles him into putting his life on the line in “The Deadly Game.”

James Yaffe’s play, adapted from a novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt, is hardly “Death of a Salesman” in quality. This production by the North Coast Repertory Theatre is a moralistic mystery. It doesn’t make you think so much as it makes you think twice about booking a trip to Switzerland.

Resident set designer Marty Burnett created the spooky set, awash with reds and blacks and a center stage chess set, where retired Judge Emile Carpeau (Michael Moerman), retired defense attorney Bernard La Roque (Jerry Phalen) and retired prosecutor Gustave Kummer (Daniel Mann) like to play their lethal little game.

When alone, they try historical figures, such as Adolf Hitler and Marie Antoinette. But when visitors, such as Trapp (Paul Preston) come along, they try him.

What if he’s committed no crime, as he insists? Once he consents to a trial, the prosecutor will interrogate him until he finds a crime he wishes to try him for.

After all, isn’t it part of the human condition that we all have some crime on our conscience? It may not be prosecutable in an ordinary court of law, but in this court, which models itself on a higher moral ground (absent the concept of forgiveness), even a subconscious wish to do wrong can be punishable by death.

Steve Gallion, whose previous effort at North Coast was the amusing “Beau Jest,” pushes the material forcefully along, although one hardly has to be a mystery buff to predict every turn down the road.

The acting ensemble is competent, with Moerman setting the pace as the calm and cultured judge. Phalen and Mann are given to histrionics, but then, they are playing courtroom lawyers. David Cohen brings a frightening quality to his role, which is just right, if you accept him as the emotional underbelly of the piece.

Natalie Williams is seductive, but cool, as the housekeeper. And Doug Reger conveys silent rage as the mute Pierre.

The problem with this play is the material, which suffers in light of new information on Switzerland’s involvement with the Nazis during and after World War II. You would think this holier-than-thou Swiss trinity could find a better target than a hapless American whose biggest sin is that he doesn’t think deeply about anything.

* “The Deadly Game,” North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987D Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ends July 20. $16-$18. (619) 481-1055 or (888) 776-NCRT. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes.

Michael Moerman: Emile Carpeau

Jerry Phalen: Bernard La Roque

David Cohen: Joseph Pillet

Natalie Williams: Nicole

Paul Preston: Howard Trapp

Daniel Mann: Gustave Kummer

Doug Reger: Pierre

Sherri Allen: A Visitor

A North Coast Repertory Theatre production of James Yaffe’s play, adapted from the novel “Trapps” by Friedrich Durrenmatt. Directed by Steve Gallion. Sets: Marty Burnett. Lights: Ginger Harris. Sound: Michael Shapiro. Costumes: Bryan Schmidtberger. Stage manager: Elaine Gingery.