SLUH’s long-awaited fall theatre production returned with last night's premiere of Wait Until Dark. This is the Dauphin Players’ first in-person production of the year and it will take place in a Studio Show format.

Before Covid, the theater department commonly produced Studio Shows to alter the feel of watching the play. Instead of using the whole theater, the audience is seated on risers on the stage. This limits the attendance capacity but allows for the audience to be closer to the action.

“They should feel like they are in the play,” said theater teacher Kathryn Whitaker. “Different pieces of theater lend themselves to the need for intimacy and you should be feeling some of the fear and trepidation that the actors are feeling because it's right there in front of you.”

The play itself is a thriller set in Greenwich Village, New York City during the 1960s. When photographer Sam Hendrix (junior John Madalon) leaves his blind wife Suzy (Nerinx senior Maclean Blanner) on a business trip, a situation unfolds where a doll in Suzy’s possession is stuffed with heroin. Disaster follows when three criminals, led by the notorious Mr. Roat (senior Donovan Meachem) try to acquire the doll.

“It's not just one of those plays where you can sit back; it’s a much more attentive form of entertainment,” said Whitaker. “You have to listen; there is so much information relayed that you really need to follow it. Part of the actor’s job is to keep us engaged in living through the telling of the story. But there's a lot of detail and it is very hard to understand if you’re not paying close attention.”

Lighting plays a major role in the production. True to its name, Wait Until Dark features multiple scenes in dim lighting and complete darkness. This builds suspense for the audience sitting just feet away from the performers.

“The main character is blind and she uses lights as a weapon at times,” said theater teacher Kevin McKernan. “The show is a thriller and criminals are out to get her essentially. So she uses lights at different times throughout the show, as signals or weapons because the other characters are able to see.”

This play is a sharp turn away from SLUH theater productions in recent years. Nevertheless, the Dauphin Players were eager to take on the challenge.

“I just thought it'd be fun to do a thriller,” said McKernan. “I mean, that's kind of unique to see on stage. I thought that it was very Alfred Hitchcock inspired even though he never directed this show. When I was a kid, I liked Hitchcock movies and it's kind of like that sort of listening suspense thing and I thought that would be super fun.”

Part of what makes Wait Until Dark so special is the closeness and focused nature of the production. Not only is the audience physically close to the action due to the studio format, the cast is smaller and therefore more connected.

“It’s really good to know your fellow actors as people because then you can connect with them easily off the stage and on the stage,” said Meachem. “When you connect with them off the stage it just brings more life to the show.”

Being a thriller, Wait Until Dark includes mature themes and layered characters, posing an added challenge for actors to get into character.

““It was very difficult at first because my character is supposed to be a sadistic, menacing, egotistical maniac,” said Meachem. “Ms. Whitaker was like this is not your character but you’re going to get into it, you’re going to do that whole transformation arc. It was really hard the first month of rehearsal, but then I was like, you know what, it's not about being liked on stage, it's about just doing the job.”

The fall play premiered last night. The next showings will be a matinee for theater students today at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Since there is limited seating, to attend a showing, email McKernan at kmckernan@sluh.org to reserve your ticket.