Amanda Tugangui and Brett Chapin perform a scene from “Wait Until Dark.”
The first live Theatre Palisades production since the onset of Covid-19 is “Wait Until Dark,” a suspenseful play by Frederick Knott. Opening on Friday, the play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through October 3.
Directed by Tony Torrisi and produced by Martha Hunter and Sherman Wayne, the story revolves around Susy Hendrix, a blind Greenwich Village housewife, who becomes the target of three cons.
Her husband Sam has unwittingly transported heroin hidden in a doll and the three try to convince and then threaten the woman into giving it up. Susy does not realize the doll has been taken by a little girl in an upstairs apartment.
It is a suspenseful battle of wits between Susy and the men who will stop at nothing to get the doll – including murder.
This play premiered on Broadway in 1966 with Lee Remick in the title role, and was turned into a 1967 film with Audrey Hepburn playing Susy. It was ranked tenth on Bravo’s “The 100 Scariest Movie Moments” for its climactic scene and was ranked 55th on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years … 100 Thrills” list.
Theatre Palisades actors include Amanda Tugangui (Gloria), Bret Chapin (Mike Talman), Manfred Hofer (Harry Root), Michael Wayne Osborn (Sam Hendrix), Josh Paris (Sgt. Carlino) and Vanessa White (Suzy Hendrix).
In preparation for reopening, Pierson Playhouse has been deep cleaned and the filtration system has been upgraded. All L.A. County Covid protocols are being followed.
The theater is located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. To reserve tickets, call (310) 454-1970 or visit: Theatrepalisades.org.