Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (June 25, 2025) – Wait Until Dark, Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s thrilling tale of suspense and danger takes the stage at The Shaw’s Festival Theatre. Directed by Sanjay Talwar, this heart-stopping production begins previews June 25.
Recently blinded housewife Susan (Sochi Fried) finds her uneventful life upended when a gang led by the sinister Roat (Bruce Horak) invades her basement apartment. Hoping to quickly recover a doll that was inadvertently brought home by her husband (JJ Gerber), Roat’s crew faces an unexpected and formidable adversary in the unassuming homemaker. Their sheer overconfidence and underestimation of Susan allows her to make use of her newly honed instincts and heightened senses – giving her the edge to fight back and defend her home.
Wait Until Dark also features Kristopher Bowman, Martin Happer and Eponine Lee*.
Set design by Lorenzo Savoini, costume design by Ming Wong, lighting design by Louise Guinand and original music and sound design by John Gzowski combine to evoke feelings of confinement, confusion and uncertainty in every corner of a 1944 Greenwich Village basement apartment. Geoff Scovell provides fight direction. The production team includes stage manager Jane Vanstone Osborne and assistant stage manager Kelly Boudreau.
On stage at the Festival Theatre (10 Queens Parade) from June 25 to October 5 (available for review beginning July 4), Wait Until Dark is recommended for audience members 14+. Running time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including one intermission.
Cast:
Kristopher Bowman Mike
Sochi Fried Susan
JJ Gerber Sam
Martin Happer Carlino
Bruce Horak Roat
Eponine Lee* Gloria
Creative & Production
Sanjay Talwar Director
Lorenzo Savoini Set Designer
Ming Wong Costume Designer
Geoff Scovell Fight Director
Louise Guinand Lighting Designer
John Gzowski Original Music and Sound Designer
Jane Vanstone Osborn Stage Manager
Kelly Boudreau Assistant Stage Manager
Georgia Holland Apprentice Stage Manager
Kerry Ann Doherty Assistant Director
Cody Brayshaw Assistant Set Designer
Jeff Pybus Assistant Lighting Designer
Daniel Tessy Assistant Sound Designer
Martin Happer Fight Captain
Jeffrey Simlett Voice and Dialect Coach
* The Baillie Cohort is generously supported by the Baillie Family Fund for Education.
New for the 2025 season: all performances now begin one hour earlier. Matinee performances start at 1 p.m. and evening shows start at 7 p.m.
The Festival’s current Duty of Care health-related protocols and policies can be found on shawfest.com/duty-of-care.