Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of northwest Illinois, presents the acclaimed psychological thriller, “Gaslight,” through Sunday, August 21, 2016. Patrick Hamilton’s play was so popular, it gave rise to the term “gaslighting.”
The story is of a husband who presents his wife with false information, to make her doubt her own memory in regard to unexplained disappearances from their home. Mrs. Manningham believes that each time her husband leaves, the lights in the house grow dimmer. An inspector arrives with answers as to whether the gaslighting is real or all in Mrs. Manningham’s mind.
Ken Singleton and Melissa Weyn are shown during rehearsal.
The play premiered in London under the title “Gaslight,” but it was renamed “Angel Street” for its Broadway production. Following two very popular film adaptations, using the original title, most productions opt for “Gaslight” today.
Cody Jolly, well-known to TLP audiences as an actor, makes his main stage directing debut. He stated, “The writing is so good that almost immediately you are immersed in the tension. It’s not a ‘whodunit,’ but a ‘how’s she going to stop it?’ story.”
The central role of Mrs. Manningham is played by Melissa Weyn of New York City, NY, shown with her on-stage husband, Kierran McCabe,. She was previously seen at TLP in “Les Miserables” and as the narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Resident performers Ken Singleton and McCabe play Inspector Rough and Manningham, respectively.
The cast is rounded out by guest performer Shaina Schrooten of Chicago, IL, as housekeeper Elizabeth, and Olivia Kaufmann, who starred as Gypsy Rose Lee earlier this summer, playing young maid Nancy, a role that made a young Angela Lansbury a star.
Tickets for “Gaslight” are $17 to $25 and may be purchased at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or by calling 815-244-2035. The playhouse is located at 8215 Black Oak Road, rural Mount Carroll, IL.
Timber Lake Playhouse has announced next summer’s 56th season. Discounted subscriptions for all six shows are available now.
TLP will present a special production of the musical “Always: Patsy Cline” for eight performances only over two weekends, Friday, September 9, through Sunday, September 11, and Friday, September 16, through Sunday, September 18.