By Holly Gould
The PG Players production of Wait Until Dark brings an evening full of thrilling suspense to the Keith Christeson Theater in Pleasant Grove, Utah. This play by Fredrick Knott was first performed on Broadway in 1966 and continues to keep audiences on the edge of their seats today. This adaptation of the play by Jeffrey Hatcher brings a few different twists to the original. The experienced directing team of Howard Little and Kathryn Little bring a tight knit cast of players together in the intimate setting of the black box style theater, which is nestled in the lower level of the Pleasant Grove Library.
Wait Until Dark tells of Susan Hendrix, played by Brenna Brown, a blind woman who lives in Greenwich Village with her husband Sam (Dallin Bradford). A favor to a stranger on a train leads to the smuggling of diamonds and a murder. A tricky trio of criminals who attempt to get the jewels for themselves set up an elaborate scam to trick Susan into getting them for them. Left on her own with only the help of her neighbor girl Gloria (Megan Fontana), Susan goes through the most terrifying ordeal of her life as she attempts to outsmart the dangerous conmen in an effort of survival. She quickly learns that she can only succeed if she plays by her own rules and thrusts the crooks into darkness with her.
Although it can’t be easy to play a blind character, Brown is confident in her portrayal, and her versatile emotions are strong throughout the performance. Her sweet and flirtatious side with her husband Sam, played by Dallin Bradford, is filled with chemistry. Susan is complete innocence and trust but is very perceptive as plotlines twist into unfamiliar territory.
Bradford’s time onstage is limited, but he brings a clear feeling of love and devotion to his beloved wife. He is sincere in his affection, while earnestly encouraging Susan to grow as self-reliant as possible in a world that is so challenging for her.
The simple basement apartment setting, designed by Tina Fontana, works so well with Brown’s character as she shows us how essential our other senses become when one is lacking. Indeed, the set is an integral part of the story, as Susan relies on the stability of her surroundings.
Veteran actor Dennis Purdie gives us a calmly menacing portrayal as the criminal mastermind Roat. This is a character who knows what he wants, and won’t let anything, or anyone, stop him from achieving it. Purdie may seem harmless enough at the start but is quickly shown to be an effortless schemer in bringing others along for his criminal deeds. He takes us on a thrilling rise of emotion through the performance, bringing more intensity and desperation as he feels the pressure of his greedy plan unraveling as he underestimates the capabilities of his victim.
Russ Card and Devin Malone finish off the criminal trio as Carlino and Mike. Card plays bumbling Carlino, an ex-con who is tricked into taking on more than he bargained for by Roat. He is quite convincing both as the muscle of the con men, and while impersonating a detective. Malone brings us the character of Mike in a very realistic way. He brings us right in to his made-up war buddy story so well, that the audience is shocked when we realize there’s more to this character.
Adorable precociousness is brought into play by the young Megan Fontana’s portrayal of Gloria, the Hendrix’s neighbor, who is hired by Sam to assist Susan with the harder tasks of everyday life. Fontana brings lighthearted moments of laughter that helps break up those filled with suspense. We see her character act out in defiance as she shows signs of a troubled home life. She gets more than she bargains for as she becomes too close to the dangerous situation in one of the few places of refuge she finds.
Tension consistently builds to a climax after intermission as the Littles masterfully designed light and sound combine with the intense emotions of Brown’s and Purdie’s characters in the final scene. As Susan realizes that the only way to beat Roat is to play to the strengths of her own experience, we are thrust into her world of darkness. Intermittent spots of light are the only visual help we receive as Susan fights for her own survival.
The world can sometimes seem like a dark and scary place. Wait until Dark is filled with suspenseful moments and thrilling surprises that will please any thrill seeking fan. The PG Players take us through this edge of your seat journey in a way that helps us envision breaking through our own limitations to conquer our own challenges, even though they may not be quite as criminal. Don’t Wait. Get to the Keith Christeson Theater in Pleasant Grove before it’s too late.
PG Players presents Wait Until Dark, Written by Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher.
Keith Christeson Theater, 30 East Center Street, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 (Basement of Pleasant Grove Library)
October 18-November 4, Monday, Thursday – Saturday 7:30 PM, Saturday Matinee November 2 3:00 PM
Tickets: $15 Adults, $14 Students, Seniors, Matinee is $1 less
Pleasant Grove Players Facebook Page
Wait Until Dark Facebook Event
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