Wait is over for ’60s thriller

“Wait Until Dark” has been running on a tight schedule since production began. Normally the cast would have been picked by the end of last semester. Instead, casting for the play began the day after school opened this fall, and rehearsals started immediately. The work pace for preparing this play has been quicker than usual since there was little time between casting and Thursday’s opening night.

The play takes place in 1968, and the sets and costumes reflect that time. One of the biggest challenges, said director Barry Bell, was to communicate that to the audience.

“There are so many technological differences between now and 1968,” he said. “There were no cell phones, and home phones were rotary dial instead of touch tone. There wasn’t much security in places, like airports, as there is today. It was an extremely different time.”

The play hinges on the time period. A story like “Wait Until Dark” would not happen in modern times. The technological differences are too great and people’s mind-sets were different. To change the time period would have changed everything.

“Most people viewing the play weren’t even born (in 1968),” said Bell, “So, everyone had to work hard to really achieve the look of it actually being 1968 so people would really feel like it was.”

The music for “Wait Until Dark” comes from the 1960s. There are a variety of tracks, including The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” The Bee Gees’ “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” and The Turtles’ “Happy Together.” All of the songs played were big hits in 1968, and the tracks are shuffled at each performance.

Though there were difficulties with the show, Bell said this one would be as good as any other play VCU Theater has put on.

“Everyone has worked hard on ‘Wait Until Dark,’ and the show has good entertainment quality,” he said. “People should definitely come and see it.”

Meet the cast

Keith Alexander (Harry Roat) is a senior performance major and in his second main stage role. Other credits include “The Civil War.” “Colored Creativity,” and “Friday the 13th Extreme Cutz.” He is also a dancer for Richmond’s premiere dance company 4.T.S. Choreography.

Angela Shipley (Suzy Hendrix) is a senior performance major graduating in May. She last appeared on VCU’s mainstage in “The Civil War.” She has also been seen around Richmond at Henrico Theatre Company in “Pirates of Penzance” and “Cliffhanger,” and at Chamberlayne Actors Theatre in “Charley’s Aunt” and “Proposals.”