Dany Margolies – Arts In LA
Suspense and suspension hallmark this sleek production. At the play’s climax, on opening night, no breathing could be heard among the audience members. No one shifted in his seat, no one crinkled her program, no critic dared jot down a note. Suspense reigned. At the top of the play however, one must suspend disbelief, giving up all thoughts of “natural” or “expected” behavior. The earlier each viewer passes that tipping point, the more immersive this theatergoing experience will be for that viewer. Read more…
Terry Morgan – LAist
For whatever reason, suspense is not something theatre does very well. Perhaps it’s the physical limitations of the stage space, but few plays attempt to be thrillers, and even fewer succeed at it. One of the notable exceptions to this truism is Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark, a Broadway hit that became an even more famous film. Read more…
Les Spindle – Frontiers L.A.
The 1966 thriller Wait Until Dark by Fredrick Knott (Dial M for Murder), now being revisited in a world-premiere adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, relies on a timelessly intriguing damsel-in-distress formula. In a tense showdown between a Greenwich Village housewife and some thugs who invade her home, the key twist remains the heroine’s blindness. This affliction proves both a weakness and a strength for her amid a battle of ingenuity and determination.
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Pauline Adamek – ArtsBeat LA
A hoary old thriller, Wait Until Dark still holds some scares for 21st century theatre audiences and can be seen at the Geffen Playhouse until Sunday, November 17.
The stage play by Frederick Knott—first performed in 1966—was famously filmed the following year and starred Audrey Hepburn. For this handsomely staged production, Matt Shakman directs Jeffrey Hatcher’s world premiere adaptation. Read more…
Now running through November 17.