The Temple Theatre will be transformed into an arena of intrigue and suspense with the opening of “Wait Until Dark” on Friday, September 4. The play, written by Frederick Knott, is probably best known by the movie production starring Audrey Hepburn.
A sinister conman, Harry Roat, and two ex-convicts, Mike and Carlino, are about to meet their match. They have traced the location of a mysterious doll, harboring a small fortune in drugs, to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix and his recently blind wife, Susy. Sam Hendrix was asked to watch after the doll by a woman he didn’t know, as they departed a plane.
The con man and his ex-convicts, through a cleverly constructed deception, convince Susy that the police have implicated Sam in the woman’s murder, and the doll, which she believes is the key to his innocence, is evidence.
She refuses to reveal its location, and with the help of a young neighbor, figures out she is the victim of a bizarre charade. Susy knows the only way to play fair is by her rules, so when darkness falls she turns off all the lights leaving them to maneuver in the dark until the game ends.
Harry Roat is played by John C. Rabe with Mike played by Nickolas Beatty and Carlino, by Ron W. Bates. The blind Susy is played by Lindsey Sarrate and her husband, Sam, by Brian Farley. Other cast members include Maria Farley as Gloria, Nicole Griffiths and police officer #1 and Sarah Conner as police officer #2. Understudy Miranda Salazar will perform as Gloria during Sunday matinees.
“Wait Until Dark” director, Jennifer Toledo, chose the play on the suggestion of a friend. She wanted to do a show different than the norm for the theater.
“Suspense-thriller is out of the box for us,” she said.
The play was presented to the board and chosen for the season. Casting took place in early June and rehearsals began shortly after the 4th of July.
Toledo assisted directed for the first time in 2013, and made her directorial debut in last year’s production of “Lost in Yonkers” at the Temple Theatre.
“I do act, as well,” she said. “My first at the Temple Theatre was in December, 2010 – I played three men.”
Since, she has played in multiple shows at the Temple Theatre and the Ice House Theatre.
“Wait Until Dark” performances are on Fridays and Saturdays, September 4-26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees, September 6-27 at 2pm. The Temple Theatre is located at 514 Visalia St. in Hanford.
This show is not suitable for small children.
Advance tickets are $12 and maybe purchased on the web at www.kingsplayers.net; or $14 at the door.
For more information, call (559) 584-7241 or visit the website.