By Merle Exit
Following its stellar version of the Broadway muscial “La Cage aux Folles,” Rockaway Theatre Company has changed gears considerably with its new production, the well-known Frederick Knott drama “Wait Until Dark.” A popular movie version of play, starring Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin, scared the beejusus out of audiences back in the 1960s. This new stage version makes a strong effort to do the the same for today’s audience.
The play takes place in the basement of an apartment in Greenwich Village, and the set for that apartment is ingeniously constructed so the audience can see who is about to enter, or has just exited, through the windows. It tells the story of Susy Hendrix (Jessica Mintzes), a recently blinded housewife who unwittingly possesses a doll filled with illicit drugs. Her photographer husband, Sam (Robert Mintzes) had somehow been asked to pass it on as a gift by someone he met at an airport. When Harry Roat (Frank Caiati), a brutal but sophisticated criminal, finds out where the doll is, he coerces two small-time thugs, Mike Talman (Frank Freeman) and Sgt. Carlino (Danny Velez) into helping him con Susy into giving up the doll.
Their scheme to get the doll takes advantage of Susy’s blindness. They signal each other with lights by way of using the Venetian blinds. When that scheme doesn’t go their way, one of a more forceful nature becomes the option.
Although Susy can pretty much fend for herself, she has the assistance of an impish, upstairs neighbor, Gloria (Emmy Murray), who provides some comic relief. When Susy realizes that her life may be on the line, she, with the assistance of Gloria, uses her disability as part of her plan to defend herself.
Jessica Mintzes’ performance was the show’s highlight. The drama teacher at Irwin Altman Middle School 172 in Glen Oaks, she makes Susy’s blindness, and her fear, totally believable. Caiati, despite a slight tendency to overact at times, puts on a good performance. Velez was thoroughly convincing in both aspects of his role—making Susy believe that he was a police officer, and showing the audience the reality of his “bad guy” character. Emmy has been a member of the RTC’s Children’s Theatre Workshop since she was in second grade. Now, at 13, she shows that her training has paid off.
Susan Warren Corning directed this production, which on the whole worked qiute well.
So will this production of “Wait Until Dark” scare the beejesus out of you? It certainly puts together all the elements for an entertaining and exciting evening, but you will have to see the show to decide for yourself.
Still, this show is highly recommended. Rockaway Theatre Company is located at Fort Tilden in Breezy Point. Performances are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. While cigarettes are smoked on stage during the show, they are herbal. “Wait Until Dark” is not recommended for children.
