Entertainment
Deathtrap Delivers Laughter, Suspense and a Few Shocks
With Twists So Good They Should Be Illegal, Upstage Productions’ Deathtrap Proves It’s a Crime to Miss This Wickedly Clever Thriller.
October 11th, 2025
Some plays are like rollercoasters: you know there will be twists, but you still scream anyway. Deathtrap, Upstage Productions’ debut at Empire Stage, is exactly that kind of ride—a sly, twist-laden comic thriller that keeps you furiously recalculating who’s plotting what.
Founded by accomplished actress and businesswoman Janice Hamilton, Upstage Productions enters the Fort Lauderdale scene with confidence and style. Their first offering, Ira Levin’s 1978 Broadway classic, is notoriously tricky as it is part murder mystery and part meta-theatrical joke, but the company navigates it with polish and panache.

Betsy Bittar, Matthew Pyle. Photo by Amy Pasquantonio
Larry Buzzeo is well cast as Sidney Bruhl, a playwright whose career has stalled and whose moral compass is flexible, to say the least. Buzzeo balances Sidney’s wit with moments of anxiety and self-doubt, making his devious plotting nearly sympathetic. His performance at the beginning of the play is a bit stilted and his acting focus scattered, but his performance grew stronger as the play progresses. Opposite him, Om Jae’s Clifford Anderson is charmingly energetic, and deliciously manipulative—someone you want to trust and yet simultaneously suspect. He turns in a thoroughly enjoyable performance.

Om Jae, Larry Buzzeo. Photo by Amy Pasquantonio
Michele Verdi’s Myra offers a naïve and emotional counterpoint to the scheming duo though a tad overacted, while Betsy Bittar, as the colorful psychic Helga Ten Dorp, delivers comic timing so precise it’s almost preternatural. Her performance is hilarious. Matthew Pyle’s Porter Milgram, meanwhile, acts as the calm in the storm. He is a voice of reason in a house full of highly suspect motives.

Betsy Bittar, Michele Verdi. Photo by Amy Pasquantonio
Director Deborah Kondelik knows what makes Deathtrap tick. The pacing is brisk, the tension taut, and the production design cleverly complements the claustrophobic humor. The set truly uses every inch of the space with great style. You’ll find yourself chuckling one moment, squirming the next, and—just when you think you’ve figured it out—Levin flips the table.
What makes this production especially noteworthy is that it doesn’t just lean on the play’s famous twists, it finds humor in human nature. Upstage Productions may be new, but their debut suggests a company with a sense of style and a commitment to entertaining intelligently. So if you’re looking for murder, mischief, and theatrical mayhem all wrapped into one evening, Deathtrap is your ticket!
Upstage Productions’ Deathtrap
October 10 – November 2, 2025
Empire Stage, 1140 N Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale
Tickets: $40 | upstageproductions.net | 954-264-1461
Performances: Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 5pm
Entertainment
Eudēmonia Summit 2025 Brings Wellness, Science, and Soul to West Palm Beach
From neuroscience to cryotherapy, the Eudēmonia Summit turned flourishing into a full sensory experience. Every corner offered something new to taste, try, or feel.
November 17, 2025
Eudēmonia might be an unfamiliar word, but its meaning is timeless. Flourishing. Living well. Thriving in every sense. And that spirit defined the entire second annual Eudēmonia Summit in West Palm Beach, where science, wellness, and curiosity came together for a weekend that felt both grounding and energizing.
From the moment guests stepped inside the Palm Beach Convention Center, the tone was set. The lighting was warm, the installations thoughtfully designed, and the air carried a calm that encouraged everyone to slow down and simply take it all in. Attendees wandered through the space with a mix of wonder and intention, sampling wellness drinks, speaking with experts, stretching through guided movement zones, and exploring an impressive collection of new health technologies. It felt like stepping into a world where taking care of yourself was the main priority.
The speaker lineup delivered nonstop inspiration. Andrew Huberman translated neuroscience into everyday tools. Amy Shah made gut health refreshingly clear. Dave Asprey drew crowds eager to understand longevity from a practical angle. Dan Buettner brought the joy and storytelling behind the Blue Zones to life. Halle Berry added a touch of movie star brilliance and genuine heart as she shared her personal approach to wellness. Each session felt polished, purposeful, and packed with insights that guests immediately wanted to try at home.

The Exposome floor was the true heartbeat of the event. It buzzed with people rotating between red light therapy, cryotherapy boosts, aromatherapy experiences, meditation pods, hydration bars, and interactive recovery stations. Brands showcased products that blended science with sensory appeal, and guests moved between booths with an easy mix of curiosity and play. Everywhere you looked, someone was discovering something new.
What made the weekend stand out was how natural the sense of community felt. Conversations sparked over tastings, product demos, and shared favorite sessions. People compared wellness readings, swapped recommendations, and connected over a mutual desire to feel better and live with intention. Nothing felt forced or overly formal. Instead, the summit created space for authentic connection and genuine enthusiasm.
At the center of everything was the idea of the exposome, the concept that our daily environment shapes our health far more than we often realize. The food we eat, the stress we carry, the people we interact with, and the choices we make again and again all leave an imprint. Throughout the weekend this idea transformed from theory into something beautifully practical. Guests began seeing small daily habits as powerful tools rather than obligations.
By the end of the summit, attendees walked out with tote bags filled with wellness products and notebooks full of ideas, but more importantly, they left with a refreshed understanding of what it means to truly flourish. The second year of Eudēmonia felt bigger, smarter, and more vibrant than the first, signaling that it is quickly becoming one of the most compelling wellness gatherings in South Florida.
If flourishing had a destination this weekend, it was here.
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