Wait Until Dark
By Frederick Knott
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
Directed by Anita Rowland
rowlandanital@gmail.com
AUDITIONS DATES: Sunday, November 22, and Monday, November 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Callback Date: TBA, only if needed.
AUDITION LOCATION: The Village Playbox, located at The First Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights on Green Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Haddon Heights, NJ.
TRANSPARENCY: The Village Playbox is a non-union community theatre group. This is an unpaid, all-volunteer production. ALL ROLES ARE AVAILABLE.
SYNOPSIS
The play takes place in the basement apartment of an old brownstone in Greenwich Village, New York, NY, October 1944. Sam Hendrix met his wife Susan in a hospital where she was recovering from a car accident that left her permanently blind and he was being treated for PTSD after photographing some of the horrors of WWII. Sam, now a photographer in New York City, lives with Susan live in a basement apartment in Greenwich Village. After returning from a business trip, Sam discovers a doll in his satchel. A woman, whom Sam recognizes as a fellow train passenger, arrives at his door and asks if she had mistakenly dropped the doll into his bag. When Sam goes to get it, he can’t find it. She is later murdered by Roat, who will stop at nothing to find the doll that contains smuggled diamonds. Enlisting the help of Mike Talman and Carlino, Roat devises a con that lures Sam far away from home with the offer of a non-existent photography job. Soon mysterious people start appearing at the Hendrix apartment where the only one at home to deal with them is Susan. As these strangers manipulate and deceive their way into Susan's confidence, she realizes that she may be in serious danger. Unable to rely on her vision, Susan must use her other senses, intelligence, courage, and instincts to survive. The tension builds as the characters become caught in a dangerous game of trust, deception, and survival, leading to a thrilling and unforgettable climax.
PREPARATION
You will be asked to do cold readings from the script. To prepare for your audition, you should consider reading a full plot summary of the show (check online) and familiarizing yourself with the characters. On the audition form, you can specify a particular role, but you will most likely be reading for multiple characters in various scenes. Clear diction, strong projection, stage presence, and characterization are the keys to a successful audition. Be prepared to report ALL conflicts at the time of your audition.
REHEARSALS: All rehearsals will take place at The Village Playbox on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm (6:30 on Sundays), beginning on Wednesday, November 30. Not all cast members will be called to every rehearsal. A schedule will be provided.
TECH WEEK: Tech rehearsals are scheduled for January 31 and February1, 2, 3, and 4, 2027. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY.
PERFORMANCE DATES: (8) All performances will take place at the Village, February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, and 20, 2027. Evening curtain is 8:00 p.m.; Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m. PARTICIPATION IN ALL PERFORMANCES IS MANDATORY.
SET STRIKE: Sunday, February 21 at 2:30 pm. All hands on deck, please!
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Ages listed are for the characters, not necessarily the actors.
PLEASED BE ADVISED: This production contains themes of crime, deception, intimidation, violence, and suspenseful situations. Stage combat and intense dramatic scenes will be safely choreographed and rehearsed. Actors portraying Susan, Roat, and Mike must be physically able to participate in these stage combat sequences.
Lead Roles
Susan Hendrix (late 20-30s) Still adjusting to the blindness caused by her car accident, Susan is intelligent, independent, and resourceful. She undergoes a remarkable transformation from uncertainty to determination as she confronts increasingly dangerous circumstances. Requires strong emotional range and stage presence. The actress playing this role will have the additional challenge of appearing visually impaired throughout the show.
Mike Talman (30s-50s) Mike is con-man who has done a recent stint in prison. He claims to be a Marine officer who served with Sam. His job is to get close to Susan until she locates the doll. Gradually he becomes sympathetic to Susan. Charming, confident, and seemingly helpful, he is a smooth operator, but he is incapable of the kind of vicious cruelty practiced by Roat. Confronted by the moral impossibility of harming Susan, he decides to abandon the criminal scheme and just take off without the doll. In his final speech, before his own murder, he says, “You know the funny thing? I actually was a lieutenant once.” So, there is a kernel of truth buried within his deceit. Requires strong acting skills for layered characterization.
Harry Roat (Jr. and Sr.) (40s-60s) Roat is the primary antagonist and the mastermind of a scheme to retrieve the doll packed with smuggled diamonds. He is intelligent, manipulative, ruthless, amoral, and frighteningly unpredictable. Notable is his 4F classification for “mental exception” in the WWII draft. He takes great pleasure in terrorizing Susan. Requires an actor capable of creating significant tension and menace.
Featured Roles
Carlino The script describes Carlino as a “bearish man in a heavy overcoat.” He defines himself without speaking a word during the first moments of the play by rifling the Hendrix’s refrigerator, helping himself to a chunk of leftover meatloaf, and stealing a twenty-dollar bill from the freezer compartment. He is a petty thief who seeks instant gratification for his criminal instincts. A former policeman, he is the muscle of the group, physically imposing and just bright enough to think on his feet when unexpected obstacles pop up during the course of the con-job. However, his rather dim-witted failure to anticipate a double-cross on the part of his pathologically violent confederate, Roat, results in his death.
Gloria (12-18) At the awkward age between childhood and adolescence. Bright child with a good heart, but home life is rough (undependable mother, father recently abandoned the family). She really wants Sam to like her and is very strong when put in charge but tends to be petulant with Susan. She is terribly uncomfortable in her body; wants to be seen as a young woman but is still mired in childhood.
Sam Hendrix (30s-40s) Sam strongly encourages Susan to become more independent as she adjusts to her blindness. He wants her to learn to be self-reliant, to avoid falling into the trap of victimhood and dependency. Having had his own period of weakness—and apparently having overcome it—he is determined that Susan will do the same. He is caring and supportive, though frequently absent due to work obligations.
You may download the audition form from our website ahead of time if you wish and bring it with you (www.villageplaybox.org). If you have any questions, please email Anita Rowland.