Crooks steal the show in new thriller

A pair of drug smugglers learn that stealing from the blind isn't so easy in Wait Until Dark.

By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2003

If you've ever been awakened in the dark of night by a scary noise coming from somewhere in your house, and lay in the dark trying to figure out what to do, then you will probably relate to the premise of Wait Until Dark, opening this weekend at Playhouse 19.

The plot of Wait Until Dark opens with freelance photographer Sam Hendrix (played by Brady Neeld), who as a favor for a friend, smuggles a wooden doll filled with heroin back to his New York apartment and then leaves for an assignment. From there, the plot switches to his blind wife, Susy Hendrix, (Katie Scholes) as she is terrorized by murderous crooks who come to get their doll back.

As their first ruse, the crooks convince her that her husband is cheating on her, and the doll links him to the murder of his supposed mistress. She initially agrees to help the drug dealers find the doll and destroy it, but the crooks don't count on her enhanced hearing abilities which tip her off that all may not be as it seems.

The suspense in this play comes from the audience knowing the whole time what is really going on, and then watching Susy slowly come to the same realization.

The rest of the cast features Crystal River police chief Jim Farley as Harry Roat, a psychotic killer who stalks Susy in her house. Other cast members are Artie Schultes as Mike Talman; Charles Kylis as Sgt. Carlino; Erinn Botz and Marina Siegel in alternating roles as Gloria, a little neighbor girl; and Jack Ormiston and Debra Ryans as two cops.

The play is directed by Mickey Mandel, who has directed more than 50 shows in Illinois and Wisconsin, said Playhouse 19 director Ray Hill. This is her first directing effort at Playhouse 19.

To prepare for the challenging role of Susy Hendrix, Scholes visited the Lighthouse for the Blind in Tampa to observe blind people and try to pick up their mannerisms.

"Portraying a blind person is the most difficult part of the play," Hill said. "She had to learn not to focus her eyes on anything and how to handle a cane."

Wait Until Dark was made into a movie in 1967 starring Audrie Hepburn, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her role. Alan Arkin played the killer, Roat.

-- Jorge Sanchez can be reached at 860-7313 or sanchez@sptimes.com .

At a glance

The suspense thriller Wait Until Dark opens today at Playhouse 19, 865 U.S. 19 S, Crystal River and runs Thursdays through Sundays until March 23. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 at the box office. Call 563-1333.

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