Thriller Angel Street at Hayes Center August 7 to 16

One of the longest-running nonmusicals in Broadway history, the psychological thriller Angel Street spawned a new generation of spine-chillers—giving way to such intense classics as Dial M for Murder, Wait Until Dark, The Bad Seed and Deathtrap—and led to the 1944 Oscar-winning film Gaslight starring Ingrid Bergman.

Don’t forget to breathe when the Blowing Rock Stage Company (BRSC) kicks off the second half of its summer season with playwright Patrick Hamilton’s white-knuckle-inducing tale and transports the shadowed environs of Victorian England to the stage of the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock. The production will take place Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 16.

Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays; 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays with an additional 2:00 p.m. showing on August 15; 2:00 p.m. on Sundays with an additional 7:00 p.m. showing August 9; 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The Stage Company’s latest outing, a melodramatic potboiler with a modern flair, is directed by BRSC Producing Artistic Director Kenneth Kay and stars BRSC veterans Stephen T. Ware (Jan Karon’s Journey to Mitford), Viki Boyle (The Immigrant) and Kim Cozort (Suite Surrender). The play follows a sensitive, hapless woman whose domineering husband has all but convinced her that her sanity is disintegrating. Critics have praised Hamilton’s vivid and unique writing style, as it produces that retro feel of Victorian-era suspense but raises serious issues of abuse and manipulation with a contemporary flair. The New York Times proclaims Angel Street “chills audiences anew,” while theatremirror.com calls it “a dynamite thriller.” CurtainUp.com says, “[Angel Street] achieves the near impossible feat of keeping you entertained, in suspense and amused all at once.”

“So far, we’ve had a terrific summer theatre season full of laughter and music, and now Angel Street will offer our audiences a thrilling and dramatic change of pace,” said Kay. “I love plays that can transport an audience to a different time and place. Angel Street, with its Victorian setting, authentic costumes and superb cast, is just the ticket.”

On opening night, the Hayes Center will offer heavy hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Glidewell’s restaurant in the outside courtyard at the Hayes Center from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. (In the event of rain, a tent will be erected or the event will be moved into the lobby.) Cost is $10 per person (pay in advance or at the door). Additional dinner and show packages starting at $82 per couple are also available at Glidewell’s, Bistro Roca, Crippen’s and the Manor House at Chetola.

Tickets are are $26 for adults and $14 for students. Special group rates are also available (10 person minimum). Season and Flex Passes can be purchased and used throughout the entire ’09 season.

The Hayes Center is located at 152 Jamie Fort Road off Highway 321 in Blowing Rock. For tickets or more information, call 828-295-9627 or click to www.HayesCenter.org.

LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST

LATEST COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS

TOP NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE