The Stagecrafters theater in Chestnut Hill begins its eighty-eighth season of standout plays with the production of the classic spine-tingling thriller, ANGEL STREET, set in Victorian London. At curtain’s rise, the audience is introduced to a very frightened woman, Bella Manningham, along with the master of the house, her suave and manipulative husband, Jack. Frail-nerved Mrs. Manningham, already questioning her mental state, is certain that the gaslights on the walls get dimmer every time Jack goes out into the night; or … is it all in her head? Generations of critics have attested to the play’s power to hold audiences spellbound: “… As a creep show, [this play is] close to the top of the class.” (1948); “… Angel Street … remains a first-rate suspense drama.” (1988) – The New York Times; “… [keeps] you entertained, in suspense and amused all at once. …” (1999) – www.curtainup.com.
Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962) was one of the most successful novelists and playwrights of his time. It was one of his early plays, Rope (1929), that solidified his reputation as a master of theatrical suspense; in 1952 it was adapted into the classic Hitchcock film of the same name. The present play premiered in London’s West End in 1938 under the title Gaslight, and enjoyed a six-month run; it opened in 1941 on Broadway, as Angel Street, featuring Vincent Price as Mr. Manningham and running three years for a total just shy of 1300 performances! The play was adapted for film twice (as Gaslight): in Britain (1940); and in the United States (1944) with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman (who won the Oscar for Best Actress). Over the decades, there have been a good number of revivals in London, New York, and elsewhere. As one critic astutely noted: “… Hamilton was a man uniquely attuned to the dark side of human relations …, a fact reflected in the continued popularity of his work …” – www.fandango.com.
Performance dates are Sep. 15*-17, 22-24, 29-Oct. 1 at 8 p.m., Sep. 18, 24** at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at $21.00 Online (no service charge), $25.00 At-door. (Thu. & Fri. eve performances 2-for-$32 Online, 2-for-$35 At-door). Students with valid ID $15.00 At-door. Groups of 15 or more are offered a reduced rate of $15.00 a ticket, paid in advance. Subscriptions are still available for the entire season, at $75.00 each, and may be purchased online, or at the box office when attending a show in the current production. The box office opens 45 minutes before each performance. For information call 215-247-8881; for reservations-direct call 215-247-9913. The theater is located in the heart of Chestnut Hill at 8130 Germantown Ave. Visit website for details: www.thestagecrafters.org.
Special NOTE: A “Meet the Cast and Director” Q & A session will be held following the performance on Friday, Sep. 23. *Opening night is a Thursday. **Saturday.
Theater/Organization The Stagecrafters
Theater/Organization Website: http://www.thestagecrafters.org
Theater/Organization Address: 8130 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (215) 247-8881
