Arts & Entertainment
Somerset Valley Players' Wait Until Dark Is Scary Theatre
Tale of blind woman terrorized by ex-cons puts audiences in the midst of the action.
Have you ever had that nightmare of being alone in the dark and you can sense someone creeping up to you? Welcome to the world of Susy Hendrix, the blind heroine of the nail-biting thriller, Wait Until Dark, the next production at the Somerset Valley Players community theatre in Hillsborough, NJ.
“What drew me to Wait Until Dark is the near constant suspense, intrigue, and deception that runs throughout it,” says director Holly Johnson Kowalenko. “SVP is the perfect performance space, since its intimate setting gives the audience the same claustrophobic feeling that Susy experiences when she is trapped in her apartment.”
Actress Shannah Catalano, who plays Susy, describes the challenges a sighted actress faces in playing a character blinded in an accident. “The hardest part has been remembering not to make direct eye contact with whomever I’m on stage with. Looking your scene partner in the eye is a hard habit for an actor to break,” she explains. “I also found myself using something solid, like a table or chair, to express how a blind person can be anchored physically.”
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The role is a physically demanding one, especially when Susy confronts her tormentors, adds fight coordinator Katie Downey. “With a blind character, it’s essential to convey the action through Susy’s other senses and occasionally her luck. Her awareness of space and people around her assist her where her eyes cannot.”
“I think Susy is a role model for everyone,” adds Catalano. “She’s smart and resourceful even when she’s going through a horrible ordeal. Despite her physical vulnerability, she’s not to be trifled with!”
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Produced by Ed Hayden and stage managed by Shannen Rivers, Wait Until Dark runs October 19-November 4 at the Somerset Valley Players theater on 689 Amwell Road (Rout 514) in Hillsborough. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. The theater is air conditioned, barrier free and wheelchair accessible.
For tickets and show times go to www.svptheatre.org.
