AUBURN — Take two playwrights who plot multiple murders, a psychic who feels all the evil vibes and a roomful of convenient tools for the terrible work … and that’s just the start of the complexities in Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap,” presented by Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theatre.

 It’s a heart-stopping thriller with excellent performances by the five-character cast. The show continues June 24-27.

 John Blanchette, a veteran CLT actor and director over the past 27 years, turns in a top-notch characterization of the author who is desperate for a new stage hit after a long dry spell. Would he kill to get his hands on a young writer’s can’t-miss ideas?

 Ryan Adair, another CLT regular, delivers an excellent performance as Clifford Anderson, the admirer of Sidney Bruhl’s hit thrillers who comes to Sidney’s house with his all-important first draft of a play he will call “Deathtrap.” Adair has been in a dozen CLT shows in the past 17 years, most recently in “Inspecting Carol” early this year.

 The show is a fascinating nonstop romp through endless unexpected developments. As the promotional material says, this is “a wickedly funny who’ll-do-it.”

 Director Mary Meserve and her talented cast members have fine-tuned every detail of this clever and fast-paced production. This is the first CLT play Meserve has been involved with, but she has 25 years of experience in area theater, including directing and appearing in many musicals.

 The role of Sidney’s wife, Myra, is played by Cheryl Reynolds. She gives an outstanding intensity to her performance as she begins to realize that her husband’s hints that he could kill for another hit play begin to sink in.

 Reynolds was last seen at CLT as Vicki in “The Full Monty.”

 Laughs are scattered throughout the dialogue, but there’s one character who brings fine comic relief to the plot. That’s Helga ten Dorp, a celebrated Dutch psychic who helps police departments solve their most challenging homicide cases. She’s staying at a house near the Bruhls and her ESP when she’s near the conniving characters adds to the suspense.

 Mary Turcotte gives a lively laugh-filled performance as Helga. She has appeared at CLT in “Dracula,” “The Mousetrap” and “Steel Magnolias.”

 The play’s fifth character is Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s attorney. He is well played by Jephthah Peters in his first CLT onstage appearance.

 The plot’s intricacies keep a tight grip on the audience’s attention, and just when it all seems to be adding up, another bit of sudden mayhem hits and everyone is back on the edge of his seat.

 An important element in the flow of this show is the excellent set, which represents a stable converted into Sidney’s studio. There’s a large fieldstone fireplace and an impressive array of knives, swords, battle-axes, a crossbow and handcuffs covers the walls, along with show cards of Sidney’s past stage hits.

 All these things figure importantly in the play, and the fine set design by Dick Rosenberg and construction by Blanchette, Gerry Therrien and Stan Spilecki deserve credit for making the production work so well.

 Lighting design by Richard Martin and light board operation by Michelle Washburn are also critical pieces that work just right at just the right time.

 “Deathtrap,” by Ira Levin opened in 1978 and went on to become the longest running comedy-thriller in Broadway history. A revival of the play is scheduled for London in a few weeks. “Deathtrap” also was made into a film starring Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon.

Go and do

WHAT: “Deathtrap”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 25-26; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27

WHERE: Great Falls Art Center, 30 Academy St., Auburn

TICKETS:  Call 783-0958 or visit www.laclt.com