Theatre Orangeville has done it again.
Having already presented overwhelming successes this season with a musical, comedy, and holiday classic, the company is now presenting I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, an impressive, suspenseful thriller from playwright Peter Colley.
While a little slow at the outset, the play quickly develops into a heart-pounding and mysterious tale, with several downright scary moments that keep audience members jumpy throughout.
Andy Pogson, who last appeared locally in Theatre Orangeville’s Mesa, is great as Greg, who wants nothing more than to rekindle the flame with his wife, Jan, during a getaway at an old farmhouse in the country. Or so it seems.
Jan is masterfully portrayed by Susie Burnett, the real star of the show. Burnett is amazingly convincing as Greg’s neurotic wife, who just recently has returned home after a stint at a mental institution.
Jan, too, wants to reconcile the obviously strained and dysfunctional – at least in the past – relationship with her husband. But she is dismayed to discover that Greg’s sister, Laura, whom she blames for many of her and Greg’s marital problems, will be staying with them at the farmhouse.
Elana Post is excellent as Laura, a narcissistic villain of sorts, who clearly believes Jan is not good enough for Greg. Post makes it very easy for the audience to immediately despise Laura, who may have her own vindictive motives for the visit.
Rounding out the cast is Terry Hart, who steals the show on several occasions with just the right amount of comedy to offset the play’s spine-tingling scenes of suspense.
Hart is absolutely hilarious as George, the stereotypical hard-drinking, simple-living farmer and the owner of the farmhouse.
And while the ramshackle home seems pretty ordinary, George quickly changes that impression by relaying several ghost stories, which frighten Jan to no end.
It’s not long before Jan finds herself tormented by strange sounds in the night and visions of a vengeful ghost. But is it real or is the unstable Jan imagining things? Or is someone trying to drive her over the edge?
Colley manages to keep the audience guessing right until the very end, with several unexpected twists and turns. And director Robert More does a splendid job of conveying the suspense and terror at the heart of Colley’s script.
Set designer Vaughn Davis should also be commended for his work in providing a very realistic backdrop that makes the most of available space and creates a feeling of intimacy with the audience.
Overall, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight is yet another hit in a Theatre Orangeville’s very successful 2008-09 season. This production will only enhance the show’s already sparkling reputation as one of the most popular stage plays in Canadian history.
I’ll Be Back Before Midnight plays six shows a week until March 8.
For tickets call 519-942-3423 or 1-800-424-1295, visit www.theatreorangeville.ca or email tickets@theatreorange-ville.ca.
