Winni Playhouse presents classic thriller

MEREDITH — The setting is a basement apartment in Greenwich Village circa 1944. A terrible crime has been committed and married couple Sam and Susan Hendrix are about to find themselves caught up in a cat and mouse battle with dangerous conmen. Little do the couple know that a valuable item has been stashed in their home and the men will stop at nothing to find it.

Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller "Wait Until Dark" takes to the stage at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse from Friday, July 31 to Saturday, Aug. 8. A hit on Broadway that was then turned into a film with Audrey Hepburn, this masterfully constructed thriller moves from one moment of suspense to another as it builds toward a heart-stopping finale.

The Playhouse’s production is directed by Teisha Duncan who returns after being at the helm of successful past productions like "Jersey Boys" and Agatha Christie’s "Murder on the Orient Express."

Jamaican-born Duncan is a master storyteller who excels at bringing out finely tuned performances from the actors she works with.

“At its heart, 'Wait Until Dark' is a masterfully constructed thriller, but beneath its suspense lies a question that has stayed with me throughout this process: How do we define home? Is it a place? A person? A memory? A feeling of safety?” Duncan said.

The cast includes NH-native Karina Ithier as Susan and Arizona-based actor Marshall Glass as Sam. Seth Hatch, Osama Mahmoud Ashour, and Dustin Teuber all return to the Playhouse after performing in past seasons. The cast also includes Wolfeboro’s Jer’zori Boisert, a talented 13-year-old who plays the Hendrix’ precocious neighbor, Gloria.

The Playhouse’s 2026 Professional Season which is sponsored by R&D Paving and Lakes Region Community College. The production is further sponsored by Laura and Gary Stephan.

Tickets are available at winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.