Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, review: Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark, Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, to September 17.

Review by Barbara Goulden

Priory actor Samantha Harris must have known she'd have her work cut out when she agreed to take on the role of a vulnerable blind woman in this classic thriller which was first staged on Broadway and later made into a film.

Lee Remick won a Tony Award in the 1966 Broadway production and when the play was transferred to London's West End it starred Honour Blackman before being turned into a film leading to Audrey Hepburn being nominated for an Academy Award.

So, not an easy part, but one for which Samantha rose to the occasion proving very far from helpless as criminals in search of a stash of heroin close in around her darkened world.

At first I was a bit confused and suspected that the trio of con-men played by Phil Spencer, Des McCann and Mark Plastow, were suffering from a few first-night-nerves. There may have been the odd explanatory line missed here and there.

The play was one of many held up by Covid, and first-time Priory director Gill Halford was delighted when the cast remained keen and the backstage team came up with a cleverly constructed set offering lots of atmospheric opportunities for the building-up of tension.

Elysia Sully even manages to bring the odd laugh to her role of Gloria, although this is very far from a comedy.

For tickets go to: https://www.priorytheatre.co.uk/