by Dana Ernest
Summary
Wait Until Dark was written by Frederick Knott. The play revolves around three crooks, Talman, Carlino and Harry Roat. Roped into participating in the scheme, Talman and Carlino are con-men. Roat is the criminal mastermind who devises the plan. The men are looking for a musical doll filled with heroin, which they believe is in the apartment of Sam and Susy Hendrix. Susy, who is blind, is their target. When Sam is gone, Susy is alone in their home, and the men make it their mission to con her and retrieve the doll. However, Susy turns out to be more intelligent than they thought. With the help of her nine year old neighbor, Gloria, Susy comes up with a plan of her own, and attempts to outwit the criminals.
Action Statement/World of the Play
This play is about a young blind woman who becomes the target of a sinister plot but when she discovers the criminal's scheme, she attempts to thwart them and in doing so, must find strength she never knew she had. Wait Until Dark is a thriller. Filled with tense moments, it should ideally keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Susy, the heroine, is at first portrayed as someone who greatly relies on the help of others. Her husband, Gloria, and eventually Mike, all fill the position of “the rescuer” at some point. However, there comes a time when Susy has no one to lean on. She discovers Mike is a fake, and Gloria and Sam have gone. She has no one to rely on but herself. By uncovering the plot and then creating her own plan, she demonstrates an intelligence and resourcefulness previously unknown.
Roat, on the other hand, is a vicious, remorseless villain. When it is revealed that he has killed Lisa, he seems to feel nothing. It is as simple as the fact that he wanted something, and she was useless to him. Roat is a dark, menacing shadow over the rest of the characters. He threatens everyone in the play at some point or another. He eventually kills 3 people. His own death at the hands of blind Susy is an almost poetic justice, as he spends the end of the play tormenting her.
Roat, on the other hand, is a vicious, remorseless villain. When it is revealed that he has killed Lisa, he seems to feel nothing. It is as simple as the fact that he wanted something, and she was useless to him. Roat is a dark, menacing shadow over the rest of the characters. He threatens everyone in the play at some point or another. He eventually kills 3 people. His own death at the hands of blind Susy is an almost poetic justice, as he spends the end of the play tormenting her.
Character Breakdown
Mike Talman: A con-man who has done a recent stint in prison. Between 25 and 35. Former partner of Lisa and 'Carlino'. Talman is not his real name, though we never discover his, Carlino's or Roat's real names. Talman's job is to get close to Susy Hendrix until she discovers the doll and then get it from her. Gradually he becomes sympathetic to Susy.
Sgt. Carlino: Talman's partner, another con-man who has just been released from prison. Between 25 and 35. Pretends to be a police sergeant in Roat's scheme. Seems to be the most hot-headed of the three.
Harry Roat (Jr and Sr): A sinister and cool-headed villain. The mastermind of the doll scheme. He will stop at nothing to get the doll. Mid 40s. We are never positive of Roat’s real identity. At one point, he pretends to be an old man (Roat Sr.) and his son (Roat Jr.), in order to fool Susy.
Susy Hendrix: The heroine. Mid-to-late 20s. She was blinded a year ago in a car accident. Married to Sam. She is calm, resourceful, and intelligent.
Sam Hendrix: Susy's husband, a photographer. Mid-to-late 20s. Received the doll from Lisa at the airport (not realizing it was filled with heroin) and then misplaced it.
Gloria: The Hendrix's upstairs neighbor. She is nine years old and wears glasses. She helps Susy out with chores and various tasks. She loves Sam but is difficult and petulant when dealing with Susy.
Policemen: Two policemen arrive at the very end, discovering the scene. May be played by the actors who play Carlino and Talman.
Sgt. Carlino: Talman's partner, another con-man who has just been released from prison. Between 25 and 35. Pretends to be a police sergeant in Roat's scheme. Seems to be the most hot-headed of the three.
Harry Roat (Jr and Sr): A sinister and cool-headed villain. The mastermind of the doll scheme. He will stop at nothing to get the doll. Mid 40s. We are never positive of Roat’s real identity. At one point, he pretends to be an old man (Roat Sr.) and his son (Roat Jr.), in order to fool Susy.
Susy Hendrix: The heroine. Mid-to-late 20s. She was blinded a year ago in a car accident. Married to Sam. She is calm, resourceful, and intelligent.
Sam Hendrix: Susy's husband, a photographer. Mid-to-late 20s. Received the doll from Lisa at the airport (not realizing it was filled with heroin) and then misplaced it.
Gloria: The Hendrix's upstairs neighbor. She is nine years old and wears glasses. She helps Susy out with chores and various tasks. She loves Sam but is difficult and petulant when dealing with Susy.
Policemen: Two policemen arrive at the very end, discovering the scene. May be played by the actors who play Carlino and Talman.
Metaphor
This play is a chess game. Each move in the game affects the movement and actions of the other players. What moves are made decide who gets the advantage. The play is a game and the criminals make moves which give them the upper hand, however, Susy finds out and makes her moves to gain the advantage. Chess is a complex and intellectual game and it is full of different possibilities. The game is divided into 3 parts: the opening, the middle game, and the endgame. These parts are very similar to a play, especially Wait Until Dark. The opening sets the scene, the “match” begins when Roat introduces his plan to Talman and Carlino. The middle game occurs when the plan is set into motion and Talman begins to con Susy. Susy eventually figures it out and begins to form her own plan. The endgame is the final confrontation between Roat and Susy.
The Visual World
When I picture the play, I compare it to a film noir. The relation to the noir is because of the element of fear in the play. The play is not a noir in the literal sense, but the general feeling and atmosphere are similar. In a noir, there are often shadows cast and lighting that reflects the mood. The play takes place in a basement apartment. The lighting is muted, sometimes coming from only one fixture at a time. The stage is never fully lit. The audience can only get so much of the picture at once, this will help keep the mystery. For costumes, the period is the early sixties. However, the characters are middle class and probably do not wear atypical sixties garb (i.e.“hippie” clothing). Susy should be dressed in the lighter colors, she is the essence of good in the play. However, she will need to have freedom for movement, especially for the final scene. Talman and Carlino are streetwise cons which their clothing should reflect. Gloria is an innocent girl, but she is spunky and smart. Sam is a working class guy, a photographer.
The Aural World
There might be music during scene changes for the show. If so, the music needs to be something that builds suspense and fear. For practical sound effects there will need to be the sounds of doors slamming, footsteps, a doorbell ring, a telephone ring, glass breaking, lamp breaking, and maybe a car engine.
Preliminary Props List
Act I
- Brass Knuckles
- Camera
- Photo Equipment (lights, tripod)
- Apron
- Nightgown
- Sandwich stuff: ham, cheese, mustard, bread
- $20 bill
- Carpet
- Airline bag
- Handkerchief
- Cigarette case
- Razor blade
- **Statue with blade attached: This is very specific in the script, can we come up with a way to make it work?
- Grocery bag
- Wad of bills (2)
- Garbage: papers, envelopes, airline tickets (will be in trash)
- Small notebooks (2), and pencils/pens?
- Marine Photo
- Key
- Sugar cubes
- Ash tray
- Laundry
- Small kitchen knife
- Wedding Photo (in frame)
- Key (in fridge)
- Box of keys ---one key w/ paperclip and labeled tag
- Small suitcase
- Wad of letters
- Keyring w/ 3 keys
- Vase of flowers
- Bottles of Vegetable Oil and Ammonia
- Matches
- Gas can
- Bags of powder
Notes About Set
These are just some preliminary notes I made about the set and what we will need. They are just things I picked up on from the script that they mention specifically.
- Venetian blinds; Window
- Fridge w/ light inside
- Washer/dryer
- Bedroom door (w/ lock?)
- Light Switch (2?)
- Chair
- Hall door, staircase
- Telephone
- Filing cabinet
- Safe
- Garbage
- Bedroom light
- Mirror
- Fuse box