Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark
By Frederick Knott. Fremantle Performing Artists. Directed by Brenton Foale. The Actors Hub, Kensington St, East Perth, WA. Oct 21-30, 2021

The thriller Wait Until Dark, produced by Fremantle Performing Artists, is playing to capacity audiences at The Actors Hub studios.

Unusual to see thrillers on stage, this 1966 classic keeps its audience on the edge of their seats, while it features a bravura role for its leading actress. 

Suzy Hendrix is a blind Greenwich Village housewife who becomes the target of three con-men searching for a doll, containing drugs, which Suzy’s husband has unwittingly trafficked from Canada, for a woman who has since been murdered. 

On the night I viewed the production Suzy was played by understudy Alexandra D’Ulisse, whose performance was outstanding. A beautiful and sensitive performance, with an excellent portrayal of Suzy’s disability, it is difficult to imagine that this performance must have been created on reduced rehearsal time. Alexandra also pulled double (or triple) duty as both assistant director and stage manager.

The trio of conmen worked well as a team. Brett Hamilton made an impressive stage debut as suave and convincing confidence trickster Mike Tahlmen. Rachel Kahan worked hard, gender flipping to play the cruel Harry Root, with Dennis Collins-Sing menacing as Carlino. 

Eleven-year-old Ella Haynes was very strong, charting a lovely journey as the annoying but ultimately heroic little-girl-from-upstairs Gloria, with director Brenton Foale playing the small but pivotal role of Sam Hendrix. The usual leading lady, Jessica Patrick made a brief appearance as a police officer in the final scene.

Fremantle Performing Artists have created the most complete set that I have seen in this venue, replicating a full box set, nicely dressed and establishing the Hendrix couple’s apartment nicely. Unfortunately there is also a big tendency for it to wobble, which rather ruins the tension at key moments. The era in which the show is set, is a little obscure - with modern appliances sitting alongside costuming that sat closer to the 1960s.

The audience are very invested in the story, aided by some strong atmospheric sound and lighting. Vocal projection could be better and times - especially when working over powerful underscoring.

A good choice for those who love a good thriller, great to see a well paced, rarely performed play.

Kimberley Shaw

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.