 by Frederick Knott8th - 17th November 2007
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The three con men when they first meet in Sam and Susy's flat to try to recover the valuable doll.
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Trenton and Croker challenge Roat.
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Susy, who is blind, feels around for Sam's hand.
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Mike Trenton and Susy realise that young Gloria has been listening to their conversation.
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Gloria throws things about in order to annoy Susy.
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Roat, disguised as his "father", comes to see Susy.
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This time, in the guise of Harry Roat Junior, Roat pretends to be looking for his father.
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Gloria secretly returns the doll in the shopping bag.
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As Susy is suspicious, Gloria looks through the window for her and sees the phone box and a dormobile nearby.
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Croker, posing as a police sergeant, searches for the doll.
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"I shall be back shortly.....with a search warrant."
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Roat pulls himself along the floor towards Susy who has crawled over to the refrigerator.
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From The Birmingham Evening Mail
WAIT UNTIL DARK
The Grange Players
Grange Playhouse, Walsall
WHAT a debut! Making her first appearance for the players, Jo Billingham gives a remarkable performance as the blind Susy Henderson in Frederick Knott's gripping drama about ruthless criminals hunting a doll with a difference.
While her husband is away on business, she has to contend with three thugs desperate to trace the toy from Amsterdam which is not the innocent gift it seems, and she is totally convincing.
People in the audience wince as the sightless Susy crashes into furniture or falls on the stairs, and hold their breath in the final scene where she fights for her life in her darkened basement flat, pursued by master crook Roat (Adrian Venables).
There are minor hiccups, like matches being struck in the petrol soaked flat, Susy's easy acceptance that a stranger is a friend of her husband, and the front door that is never locked, but overall it is a pleasing production. (All of which were according to the script! Web Ed.)
David Thane (Mike) is the most convincing of the crooks, while the role of neighbour's young daughter Gloria is shared by Holly Ray and Elizabeth Simkin.
Directed by Dexter Whitehead and produced by Kate Rock, Wait Until Dark finally switches off on Saturday November 17.
VERDICT: * * *
PAUL MARSTON
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