The Arts Theatre Cronulla’s latest production, Wait Until Dark, has opened and will run until December 2.
It is 47 years since Wait Until Dark premiered on Broadway after Jeffrey Hatcher adapted Frederick Knott’s 1966 original, giving it a new setting. This version led to the movie starring Audrey Hepburn a year later.
The Arts Theatre Cronulla’s new production is set in Greenwich Village in the 1970s. Susan Hendrix is newly married to Sam, a photographer, who she met while recuperating from a car accident that resulted in her blindness.
Susan becomes a target of three con men searching her basement apartment for jewels that Sam has unwittingly brought home hidden in a doll. She is at first manipulated and then terrorised as the men enact an over-elaborate ruse to locate the doll’s location. Susan must use her resources to outmaneuver her tormentors and turn her disability into an advantage.
Director James Bruce has put together an impressive cast with four new faces at the theatre.
Lead Margareta Moir is a film, television and theatre actor, writer and director who has performed at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood and in a diverse range of plays in Sydney.
Always keen for a challenge, Moir had never portrayed a character with a disability. Apart from the suspenseful plot, it was one of the main reasons she was drawn to playing the role of Susan.
Keegan Karambelas has worked in a variety of musicals and productions and was eager to take on the unique role of Mike, a character with seemingly no ties at all but all tied up with the situation.
Chiara D’Ambrosio and Kelly McRae share the role of the young neighbour Gloria. Chiara has been a member of the NSW Junior and Primary Schools state drama ensembles and performed in the state festival of drama and the schools spectacular. She has also appeared in short films and was nominated in the outstanding performance category at the 23rd Sydney Film School Festival.
Wait Until Dark is Kelly’s first theatre production, having recently returned from Hollywood where she took acting classes and appeared on screen for the first time. She is studying drama as an elective at school and has completed a short course at NIDA.
Performances are on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm, with three Sunday afternoon matinees.
Details: artstheatrecronulla.com.au
