BWW Reviews: Firehouse Theatre's WAIT UNTIL DARK

Firehouse Theatre's current production of "Wait Until Dark" sadly had me waiting for the lights to come back on. The play, which largely depends on suspense, timing and technical precision was lacking in all 3 departments.

Frederick Knott, who also wrote "Dial M For Murder," presents a rather convoluted story of three con men in 1970's Greenwich Village, who are trying to recover a child's doll that is filled with illegal drugs, from a man whose wife became blind in an accident a year ago.

The three would be criminals Mike (Nicklas Aliff), Sgt. Carlino (Phillip Silva) and Roat (Frank Britton) give very inconsistent and one dimensional portrayals of "evil, bad guys." Their scenes together are especially awkward, and seem like they just are not comfortable with the material or the dialog.

Ciara McMillian is the one brightest light in this darkness, as the spunky and determined blind woman, Susy. Her energy, quirkiness and depth of character help the audience root for her to beat these intruders in her life who are trying and prey upon her blindness.

Victoria Eriavez also gives a stand out performance as the precocious 9 year old neighbor Gloria; who alternates between taunting and helping Susy.

As one might expect, a suspenseful show about a blind woman depends largely on light cues, which often failed to turn on or off. Likewise, there were issues with several props, including a difficult to dial phone and a clearly plastic knife.

Director David Emerson Toney keeps the physical action moving; but in Act 2, where the suspense is supposed to be greatest; instead of becoming intense, things slow down.

Slow was also a theme for the evening, as ushers did not show patrons to their seats, and even as curtain rose over 10 minutes late, there were still patrons in the aisles of the small theater trying to figure out who was sitting in whose seat. Likewise, after a lengthy intermission, the audience sat in silence for several minutes as nothing happened on stage.

Edwin Slipek's scenic design creates the time and place well in the run down basement apartment; with a nicely used alleyway outside the windows.

Uneven performances and constant technical problems dragged down what could have been a unique and suspenseful evening of theater. Runs through October 18.

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