by Doug Schultz
Just in time for Halloween, the Barley Sheaf Players will be presenting their fall thriller, WAIT UNTIL DARK, opening October 21st. In this mystery, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats as they watch three con men try to convince Susy, a blind woman, to give them a mysterious doll. But why are they so interested in this doll? And will Susy be able to unravel the mystery in time to save herself?
Suspenseful plays tend to be popular among area theaters this time of year, but WAIT UNTIL DARK provides a unique experience for the audience. Heightening the sense of fear and tension, as the suspense builds in the final scene, all of the lights go out on stage. The audience is plunged into darkness and experiences this scene through sound and dim light. They must – like Susy – try to decipher what is happening without being able to see clearly.
Director Lindsay Franklin most recently directed The Last Five Years at Barley Sheaf last fall. When asked what moved her to choose WAIT UNTIL DARK, Ms. Franklin said, “I am drawn to shows with strong, well developed characters and WAIT UNTIL DARK not only delivers there, but also follows through with an edge of your seat plot line. Add to that a little 1960s feminism and I couldn’t help myself!”
Ms. Franklin also loved this show because she grew up loving “underdog” movies. “There is something about routing for someone who meets challenges with strength, strategy, and bravery that I can’t resist,” she says. “Audiences will love this show because of the connections between characters, shifts in power, and the moments along the way that make you catch your breath. What more could you want from a suspense thriller?”
WAIT UNTIL DARK was written by Frederick Knott, a playwright known for his thrillers – audiences may be familiar with his Dial M for Murder and Write Me a Murder. Wait Until Dark originally opened on Broadway in 1966, and a film adaptation – starring Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, and Richard Crenna – was released the following year.
Tickets for WAIT UNTIL DARK can be purchased on the Barley Sheaf Players’ website. Tickets can also be reserved by calling the box office at 610-363-7075.
Photo Credit Ethan O’Grady
Theater/Organization The Barley Sheaf Players
Theater/Organization Website: http://www.barleysheaf.org/
Theater/Organization Address: 810 N. Whitford Road Lionville, Pennsylvania 19353 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (610) 363-7075
