Swamp Fox Thriller Opens Friday
Published on 7/22/2008
Written by Clayton Stairs
The con men hatch a series of elaborate hoaxes to get to the doll. However, they must come up with a new plan when it seems that the doll has disappeared.
As Roat enters the picture, bodies start turning up and Susy is in more danger than ever. Yet, she still has one trick up her sleeve that will give her the advantage.
The Swamp Fox Players are presenting the thriller, "Wait Until Dark," by Frederick Knott at the Strand Theatre in Georgetown beginning Friday. Show times will be July 25, 26, 31, Aug. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday Aug. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 each. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the box office. The Swamp Fox Players suggest picking up tickets 15 minutes before show time.
Director Lee Padgett is a veteran actor and director with the Swamp Fox Players. Recent plays he has directed are "On Golden Pond" and the female version of "The Odd Couple," and recent plays he has acted in are "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Among Friends."
He says he is excited to offer the people of Georgetown County a rare treat -- a suspenseful thriller.
"This falls outside the norm because it is not a comedy or a musical," Padgett says. "It has been quite a challenge, but I know people will really enjoy this one."
He says the set itself is "pretty much its own character, instead of just a backdrop of the action." Venetian blinds are used for signaling, furniture is incorporated into the action and with some scenes taking place in the dark, they are "trying to bring the stage to the audience."
As far as the actors in the play, Padgett says they work extremely well together. They are Carol Neal as Susy; Dillon Moore as Gloria, a 9-year-old, mean-spirited neighbor girl; Jeff Siegrist as Mike; Dennis McAlpine as Carlino; Tom Newmister as Harry Roat; Sam Sands as Susy's husband, Sam; and stage managers Michael Hancock and Darice Newmister as police officers.
"I have the most respect and heart-felt thanks for each one of these actors," Padgett said. "They have really been giving it their all."
He adds that he would like people to come out for this intriguing production by the Swamp Fox Players.
"It is really going to be a strong play and I hope people will come fill the seats so we can continue to do things like this," Padgett said. "I love my comedies and musicals, but I also like to do something different occasionally."
Challenging roles
Neal, another veteran actor and director with the Swamp Fox Players, says that playing Susy, a blind character, has been a challenge for her -- especially since she does not have the benefit of wearing dark glasses or even closing her eyes on stage.
"You kind of have to squelch all your natural instincts," Neal said. "Things you would normally do when you walk into a room, you have to think about not doing them."
She says the first time she walked onto the set, Padgett told her not to look around the room when she entered.
"I didn't even realize I did it," Neal said. "Adapting to that has been a challenge, but its been fun."
Moore, who plays Gloria in the play, is a home-schooled student who is acting in her first production at the Strand. She says that she likes "Wait Until Dark" because it is crazy and has a lot of suspense.
"I think people are going to like it," she said. "They are going to wet their pants."
Normally a very pleasant girl, she says it has been an adjustment to play a girl who is so mean to her neighbor, who happens to be a blind woman.
Siegrist, who is also new to the Strand Theatre, has acted in plays with the Murrells Inlet Community Theatre and theaters in Clover, S.C. He says playing the character Mike, who is so devious, has been interesting.
"To be in a thriller is a real pleasure," Siegrist said. "This is only the second time I've been in a play like this."
McAlpine, who plays the other con man, Carlino, says this play is a real change of pace from what people are used to seeing at the Strand. He has acted in Swamp Fox productions of "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Divorce Southern Style."
"In other plays we have done, you are trying to make people laugh and you end up being the village idiot," McAlpine said. "Now you've got to be a real bad guy and make people hate you, or at least be scared of you."
Newmister has acted in "Among Friends" and "Six Rooms, River View" with the Swamp Fox Players. He says that Harry Roat, the darkest character of all, is a sociopath who wants to control everything.
"He actually creates two other visual characters plus a voice character," Newmister said. "He wants to see himself in all his schemes, not only as the person doing it, but as part of the audience watching him do it."
He urges everyone to come to see this production.
"There is some comedy in the first act, where they are playing off each other and one of them is looking for a sandwich," Newmister said. "People are going to think maybe it is kind of a comedy, but then it turns dark pretty fast."
To make reservations, call the Strand Theatre box office at 527-2924.
