Arizona Theatre Company’s production of “Wait Until Dark” was equal parts charming and thrilling, with a skilled cast and creative team, an engaging storyline and high-budget tech made effective by an unmatched attention to detail.
The audience eagerly followed Jeffrey Hatcher’s 2013 adaptation of “Wait Until Dark,” a play originally written by Frederick Knott in 1966 and popularized by a 1967 film version that earned Audrey Hepburn an Academy Award nomination. A tale of murder, wit and deception, the play is an attention-grabbing thriller that has withstood the test of time.
Susan Hendrix, played by Brooke Parks, is the recently blinded wife of a photographer, still adjusting to life without sight. She inadvertently falls victim to three con men plotting to steal a doll containing diamonds, which had recently come into her husband’s possession by coincidence. They soon find out, however, that Susan is more than capable of fending for herself.
Parks, who faced the daunting challenge of playing a convincing blind woman, was more than effective — she was brilliant. She showed an incredible affinity for physical acting, with movements rehearsed down to each step and gesture.
Parks also pulled off a character that is often difficult to believably portray: the helpless ingenue turned brawny heroine. She was soft, charming and easy to empathize with, but when the time came for her character to set a “Home Alone”-esque trap for her pursuers, she showed authentic strength that complemented her character’s vulnerabilities rather than contradicting them. As an audience member, you want to be her cheerleader.
Lauren Schaffel, who played Susan’s young neighbor Gloria, also put forth a standout performance. Both cartoonish and entirely believable, Schaffel provided delightful comic relief. With laughably bright, bouncy orange curls and huge horn-rimmed glasses, Schaffel was such a convincing youngster that I was genuinely surprised to see that she was not, in fact, an impossibly talented child actor.
Ted Koch, who played the sadistic arch-criminal Roat, had all the elements of a stereotypical bad guy. He was delightfully terrifying — the perfect villain. Craig Bockhorn as Carlino and Joseph Kremer as Sam both brought strong performances with convincing characterization. Con man Mike, played by Peter Rini, was intriguing as a potential love interest for Susan, and had an exciting death scene.
The entire ensemble had impeccable chemistry. Some standout scene pairings were Parks and Rini, and Parks and Schaffel as unlikely friends. Though the play started out a bit slow, it quickly picked up, and the actors made the story worth our while.
It’s easy to expect extravagant tech from a company like Arizona Theatre Company with a larger budget. However, the set, lights and costumes for “Wait Until Dark” were not only expensive but also designed with a delightfully apparent attention to detail. The set, constructed mostly from stationary pieces, was visually striking in that it consumed space vertically as well as horizontally. In particular, I admired the fact that the Hendrixes’ apartment included an elaborately plastered “ceiling” and attic stairs angling far upward, creating a whimsical feel.
With details like chipped paint and subtly faded wallpaper, the set designers made the apartment look lived in; an intriguing little world in which the audience could lose themselves. The stairs, living room and kitchen were juxtaposed brilliantly, allowing uninhibited room for blocking and fight choreography.
Soft lighting established a homey feel with a side of intrigue and mystery. In a play that culminates in darkness, shadows played a key role. The shadows of passersby were visible through the Venetian blinds and were sometimes projected on the walls thanks to some cleverly placed lights.
Sound design shared the same attention to detail. Every creak and step that would be glaringly noticeable to a blind inhabitant of an apartment building was capitalized upon, down to the electric hum of the icebox when it was opened. Creepy orchestral music gave me goosebumps during scene changes.
“Wait Until Dark” was a charmingly inspiring and triumphant little story, a taste of candy-coated adventure and harmless thrill. It doesn’t make aggressive social statements or address any controversial themes. But it does highlight the value of taking charge of one’s own life, and of finding advantage in disadvantage, as Susan turns out the lights in the apartment she has long navigated in darkness to give herself the upper hand.
It makes you want to beat the bad guys. And you just may leave victorious.
“Wait Until Dark” runs through Nov. 30 at the Herberger Theater Center at Van Buren and Second streets. Tickets start at $49.
Contact the author at Faith.Anne.Miller@asu.edu. Contact the columnist at mbilker@asu.edu
