Are you afraid of the dark'
Wait Until Dark, presented by DCP Theatre, does an excellent job of supplying plenty of shivers and goose bumps, perfect for the crisp fall season.
Written by Fredrick Knott, Wait Until Dark takes place in a basement apartment in Greenwich Village in the 1960s. The plot features intricate exposition, but the basic storyline is a simple (if unsettling) one. A doll filled with heroin ends up in the apartment of an unsuspecting blind woman, Suzy, who is subsequently terrorized by criminals looking for the doll until she figures out how to fight back.
The three criminals in search of the drug-filled doll are each equipped with a unique set of characteristics. Though we never learn their true names, we open the play by being introduced to Mike Talman (Dan Ferry) and Sergeant Carlino (Jay Fletcher.)
We soon learn that the two ex-cons have been contacted by Harry Roat (Steven Zanine) and were instructed to meet in an unfamiliar apartment, which we later discover is owned by Sam (Seth Baliles) and Suzy (Casey Gerhart) Hendrix.
Roats plan is to sweet talk the woman of the residence, Suzy (who happens to be blind) into telling them where the missing doll is.
Their plan is a careful one, full of signaled phone calls, phony characters with bizarre back stories, and fake calls to the police on behalf of our crooks as they work for information. It isnt until near the end of the production that Suzy begins to sense that something isnt quite right and begins to take steps to fight and defend herself from the increasingly threatening men.
Casey Gerharts Suzy is a captivating one. Shes only been blind for a short piece of her life, and she hasnt mastered the art of easily funtioning without vision just yet. Gerhart is more than convincing as she stumbles over chairs, struggles to find things to pick them up off the floor, and maneuvers her way from one end of the stage to the other. Her Suzy is completely endearing, and youll find yourself cheering for her as she works to outsmart the villains.
Mike Talman, the crook tasked with charming her into giving up the doll, is played to perfection by Dan Ferry, newcomer to the DCP stage. Ferrys character seems to be the only of the three baddies to have a conscience, second guessing their manipulation of Suzy more than once. Its easy to forget that he is, in fact, one of the enemies as he comforts her and gently tries to pry information from her.
Jay Feltchers character poses as the fictional Sgt. Carlino, supposedly investigating a murder thats taken place outside the building. He plays it tough, intimidating, and though his thick New York accent comes and goes, it all works to create a fantastic lowlife of a role. Carlino is the opposite of Talman, impatient, gruff, and imposing. And it all works.
The ringleader of the gang, Harry Roat, is played with delicious evilness by Steven Zanine. He is offputtingly charming, but with a constant essence of danger about him. He always seems to be ahead of the rest of the characters, meticulously planning out every detail of their scheme. He is sinister, threatening, and delivers his lines with a chilling sort of self-satisfaction.
The climax of the play, featuring Roat and Suzy, is done cleverly and with a great deal of suspense so intense its almost tangible. Aided by the beautiful set design by Mark Henry, the audience sits on the edge of their seats as the entire set is plunged into darkness.
The final fight and resulting ending are perfectly (though barely) lit (lighting design by Mike Addice), and the show is only resolved after a great deal of tension.
The supporting cast is equally as strong as the principals and each member delivers a strong performance. Young Kacie Watkins, as Suzys sometimes-helpful kid neighbor Gloria, does a lovely job despite her youth. She delivered her character with sincerity, proving to be quite the spitfire on stage.
Seth Baliles, as Suzys husband Sam, also delivers a solid performance, making the most of a smaller role.
This is director Caris Baliless debut at the helm, and she did a truly remarkable job. Shes given us a show even veteran directors might be apprehensive about taking on, and she made it look effortless.
The play is solid and well done from start to finish. The set is a perfect picture of a 1960s New York apartment, complete with period-style washing machine and refrigerator.
The lighting is eerie and exactly what the plot needs to make the audience feel unsettled (but in a good way.)
The only thing I found myself wishing for was a bit of background music to aid in the menacing tone of the show. A few haunting chords here and there under the dialogue would have pushed the show into a whole new level of suspense.
Wait Until Dark runs Nov. 7-22 at DCP Theatre in Telford, PA. For tickets and more information, please call 215.234.0966 or visit them online at www.dcptheatre.com