{"id":110590,"date":"2025-11-16T14:48:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T22:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/copy-of-annie\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T14:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:45:11","slug":"wait-until-dark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/wait-until-dark\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait Until Dark"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nThis taut, atmospheric thriller grips from first shadow to final blackout.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

A gripping, meticulously crafted production of Frederick Knott\u2019s classic thriller that has held audiences breathless for decades. Under the steady, sure-handed direction of Carl Jordan, this staging leans into the story\u2019s psychological tension and delivers the kind of slow-burn suspense that only live theatre can conjure. It\u2019s smart, sharp, and performed with an immediacy that keeps you leaning forward from start to finish.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Story Line
\n<\/strong><\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n

The play\u2019s signature twist \u2014 plunging the stage into complete darkness as Susy turns the tables \u2014 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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On Stage
\n<\/strong><\/span>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 \u2014 listening, feeling the room, and recalibrating her world through sound \u2014 creating an authenticity that drives the entire production.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tina Traboulsi builds Susy\u2019s world through sound, instinct, and sheer will.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Yen\u2019s Roat is cool as a straight razor and twice as dangerous.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

David Abrams (Mike) and Rob Garcia (Carlino) offer strong contrasts as the uneasy criminal pair \u2014 one smooth and sympathetic, the other blunt and opportunistic \u2014 giving the production texture and momentum. <\/span>Young actors Coco Brown and Diora Silin alternate as Gloria, bringing spark and attitude to a role that is vital to Susy\u2019s evolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Robin Jackson<\/span><\/p>\n

Themes & Takeaway
\n<\/strong>At its core, Wait Until Dark remains compelling because it\u2019s not just about suspense \u2014 it\u2019s about unexpected courage. Susy\u2019s shift from vulnerability to active, strategic control underscores the story\u2019s belief that strength can emerge in darkness, both literal and emotional.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is why we go to live theatre \u2014 tension you can feel in your bones.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In an era dominated by digital effects, this production is a refreshing reminder that timing, presence, and craft still create the most memorable thrills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technical Brilliance
\n<\/span><\/strong>Tom O\u2019Brien\u2019s apartment set creates a fully realized home that becomes the battleground for the escalating tension. Frank Sarubbi\u2019s lighting design sculpts the atmosphere with precision \u2014 gradually dimming the world until shadows become characters in their own right. <\/span>Billie Cox\u2019s sound design enriches Susy\u2019s sensory universe, while Valera Coble\u2019s costumes and Dhyanis\u2019s props complete a cohesive visual environment. Nic Moore\u2019s fight choreography ensures the climactic struggle feels both believable and intense.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the lights go out, the entire house seems to stop breathing.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Director Carl Jordan weaves these artistic elements together with confident pacing, creating a production that honors the original play while giving it fresh vitality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Notes
\n<\/span><\/strong>The Barn Theatre \u2014 tucked into the Marin Art & Garden Center \u2014 is an ideal venue for this production. Intimate, well-tuned acoustically, and responsive to silence, it heightens every moment of tension.<\/span><\/p>\n

A confident, razor-sharp opener to RVP\u2019s 96th season.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dates, Locations, Tickets<\/strong>
\nNovember 14 \u2013 December 14, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances<\/span>
\nThursdays\u2013Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.<\/span>
\nSundays at 2:00 p.m.<\/span>
\n(No shows November 27\u201328; special 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 29)<\/span><\/p>\n

The Barn Theatre<\/span>
\nMarin Art & Garden Center<\/span>
\n30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets<\/span>
\nStarting at $30<\/span>
\nAvailable at: rossvalleyplayers.com<\/span><\/p>\n

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