BlindSpot Productions‘ Wait Until Dark has a great pedigree, written by Fredrick Knott, who also wrote Dial M for Murder, in 1966, and immortalised in the 1967 film, starring Audrey Hepburn, who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance and Alan Arkin, it’s a terrifically absorbing ‘chair-gripper’ as they used to be known.
The play’s story of a recently blinded woman held at the mercy of three ruthless con men, who are searching for a missing heroin filled doll in her apartment, is edge of the seat stuff, and when she fights back against her tormentors, its hard not to stand up and shout support. However, this isn’t a simple thrill ride. There are twists and turns but the real tension is psychological, and the sadistic game played by the criminals provides the anxiety laden atmosphere to this play.
Despite being written over forty years ago, the universal and timeless terror we feel at being helpless drives this story, and if BlindSpot Productions can keep the tension and the claustrophobia that permeates the original writing to the fore, then this has the potential to be a hugely enjoyable and chilling 80 minutes.