Published: October 06, 2008 09:57 am            

THEATER: 'Dark Intent' at the Ghostlight

By Ed Adamczyk



The world premiere of “A Night of Dark Intent,” a play in the Agatha Christie style written and directed by resident impresario L. Don Swartz, will open the season at North Tonawanda’s celebrated Ghostlight Theatre on Thursday evening.

Since 1972, the Ghostlight has served the Northtowns an assortment of intriguing theatrical productions that often include murder mysteries, but this one has a fascinating hook — an all-female cast.

Imagine it: It’s a dark and stormy night. Six women take shelter in a remote and abandoned house. A murderer is on the loose and presumably heading there, too. Chills and thrills! Psychology and neuroses in action!

“I’ve always loved Agatha Christie plays,” said the prolific Swartz, who has written 20 plays, all of which have debuted at the Ghostlight. “It’s a formula she did so well, and she’s a much better playwright than most people know.”

As for writing a work with no male intervention, he says, “It was very enlightening for me. I was careful, and I wasn’t saying, ‘This is what it’s like.’ I’m writing about human beings. Gender is somewhere on the list, but it’s not a determinant.”

But how’s show business in uncertain times? The bustling theater, housed in a former church on a North Tonawanda side street, has seen its share of the ups and downs normally associated with the arts, but according to Swartz, “We’re doing well with season tickets. We have 300 subscribers.”

The play features both newcomers and Ghostlight regulars: Colleen Neumann, Joy Ann Wrona, Julie Senko, Vanessa Stipkovitz, Sharon Priest, Justine Swartz, Mollie McDermott and Joann V. Mis.

“A Night of Dark Intent” (the title comes from a Robert Frost poem) opens a season that will include the annual Halloween production of “Night of the Living Dead,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” the Christmas evergreen “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a nostalgic “Time Out for Ginger” and the musical “Pippin.”



Ed Adamczyk is a freelance writer from Kenmore.



IF YOU GO

• WHAT: “A Night of Dark Intent”

• WHERE: Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda

• WHEN: 8 p.m. Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18, and 2 p.m. Oct. 19

• MORE INFORMATION: Call 743-1614 or visit starrynighttheatre.com

        

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