This taut, atmospheric thriller grips from first shadow to final blackout.
A gripping, meticulously crafted production of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller that has held audiences breathless for decades. Under the steady, sure-handed direction of Carl Jordan, this staging leans into the story’s psychological tension and delivers the kind of slow-burn suspense that only live theatre can conjure. It’s smart, sharp, and performed with an immediacy that keeps you leaning forward from start to finish.
Story Line
Set in a modest Greenwich Village apartment in the 1960s, the story follows Susy Hendrix, a recently blinded woman who becomes entangled in a dangerous criminal scheme involving a doll stuffed with contraband. As three con men manipulate their way into her home under false identities, Susy must piece together the truth using her instincts, her wits, and her heightened awareness of sound.
The play’s signature twist — plunging the stage into complete darkness as Susy turns the tables — remains one of the great theatrical coups of the last century. And here, RVP executes it with precision that lands exactly as intended: a collective audience gasp, followed by stillness you can feel.
On Stage
Tina Traboulsi gives a standout performance as Susy Hendrix, grounding the role with subtlety, stamina, and a deep emotional thread. She builds the character moment by moment — listening, feeling the room, and recalibrating her world through sound — creating an authenticity that drives the entire production.
Tina Traboulsi builds Susy’s world through sound, instinct, and sheer will.
Opposite her, David Yen is chillingly effective as Roat, the mastermind criminal whose calm, predatory presence gives the play its edge. Without raising his voice, he conveys danger with the smallest turns of phrase.
David Yen’s Roat is cool as a straight razor and twice as dangerous.
David Abrams (Mike) and Rob Garcia (Carlino) offer strong contrasts as the uneasy criminal pair — one smooth and sympathetic, the other blunt and opportunistic — giving the production texture and momentum. Young actors Coco Brown and Diora Silin alternate as Gloria, bringing spark and attitude to a role that is vital to Susy’s evolution.
Photo Credit: Robin Jackson
Themes & Takeaway
At its core, Wait Until Dark remains compelling because it’s not just about suspense — it’s about unexpected courage. Susy’s shift from vulnerability to active, strategic control underscores the story’s belief that strength can emerge in darkness, both literal and emotional.
This is why we go to live theatre — tension you can feel in your bones.
In an era dominated by digital effects, this production is a refreshing reminder that timing, presence, and craft still create the most memorable thrills.
Technical Brilliance
Tom O’Brien’s apartment set creates a fully realized home that becomes the battleground for the escalating tension. Frank Sarubbi’s lighting design sculpts the atmosphere with precision — gradually dimming the world until shadows become characters in their own right. Billie Cox’s sound design enriches Susy’s sensory universe, while Valera Coble’s costumes and Dhyanis’s props complete a cohesive visual environment. Nic Moore’s fight choreography ensures the climactic struggle feels both believable and intense.
When the lights go out, the entire house seems to stop breathing.
Director Carl Jordan weaves these artistic elements together with confident pacing, creating a production that honors the original play while giving it fresh vitality.
Final Notes
The Barn Theatre — tucked into the Marin Art & Garden Center — is an ideal venue for this production. Intimate, well-tuned acoustically, and responsive to silence, it heightens every moment of tension.
A confident, razor-sharp opener to RVP’s 96th season.
Dates, Locations, Tickets
November 14 – December 14, 2025
Performances
Thursdays–Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
(No shows November 27–28; special 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 29)
The Barn Theatre
Marin Art & Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross
Tickets
Starting at $30
Available at: rossvalleyplayers.com
Each review is created through my proprietary FocusLens℠ method—an original editorial process shaped by firsthand experience, critical insight, and structured narrative design. Original photography, graphics, director quotes, and animated elements are incorporated to enhance reader engagement and visual impact. State-of-the-art scaffolding systems support organization and phrasing, but every sentence and decision reflects my own voice and judgment. These are not AI-generated reviews—they are authored, shaped, and published by me.
