Clague Playhouse’s “Angel Street” lights up the stage

The dark thriller “Gas Light” is a 1938 dramatic play set in 1880’s Victorian England. Written by British novelist and playwright Patrick Hamilton. It is an intense who dunnit that is based on deceit and evasiveness concerning a nefarious husband with a secret past attempting to drive his wife insane in order to steal her fortune.

It premiered at the Richmond Theatre in London on December 5, 1938 before transferring to the Apollo Theatre in the West End on January 1, 1939 where it closed after six months and 141 performances. In America it has been known under a variety of names including “Five Chelsea Lane, “Angel Street” and “Gaslight” that was also the name of the hit 1944 American film directed by George Cukor and starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer which received seven Academy Award nominations winning two. The play is currently onstage at Clague Playhouse.

The play opens on a happy domestic scene in foggy London as Jack Manningham (Corey Knick) surprises his wife with a promise of a night out at the theater. His wife Bella (Lindsay Pier) is thrilled at the prospect of a night out on the town. Soon though an undercurrent of subterfuge creeps in as Jack begins to ask Bella about some seemingly inconsequential items that have gone missing. It seems that all is not well in paradise as Bella needs a steady supply of a popular sedative in order to remain on an even keel.

Jack’s accusations upsets Bella to the point that tea is ruined and she retires to her room as he departs for the evening. The house keeper, Elizabeth (Barbara Howitt) rouses her mistress that a man is at the door and insists on seeing her. That person is none other than Inspector Rough (Cecil Eastman) who has spent the past fifteen years searching for the man who murdered Alice Barlow who died in that very house. The Inspector believes that Jack is the murderer who has come back to the scene of the crime in order to find the Barlow jewels (a set of nine matched rubies) worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Inspector Rough convinces Bella that Jack is indeed the murderer and while rifling through his locked desk finds items that had been missing including a broach and a watch as well as a letter written to Bella from her family that Jack never delivered.

This is a superb ensemble who quietly ratchets up the tension bit by bit all the way to the exciting climax. Along the way, there are some truly funny bits tossed in to make sure we are paying attention. Lindsay Pier as Bella plays her role with an air of mild distraction that truly convinces us that she is half a step from the asylum. Corey Knick as Jack brings a subtle undercurrent of menace combined with out and out charm that has us all guessing in the end. Caitlin Hathaway-Morgan as Nancy the naughty maid who has designs on Jack is terrific. Barbara Howitt as Elizabeth is the calming influence amid all the chaos. Lastly, Cecil Eastman as Inspector Rough is outstanding as the caring detective who only wants justice to finally be done. Jon Fancher and Michael Strama make a late appearance as the two policemen who subdue Jack during an energetic fight scene.

The elaborate set is the genius of Todd Plone with subtle lighting design by Jeff Lockshine. Bella Brehm designed the sound. Dreb Geib collected a convincing set of Victorian era props to set the scene. Sydney DeMatteis-Geib is in charge of the costume design that is elaborate and traditional. While I usually cringe when American actors try to handle an authentic British accent, dialect coach Hayley Jannielli has taught the entire cast well and the accents are quite convincing...well done! The same can be said of fight choreographer Rachel Gold. Lastly, the show is brilliantly directed by Fred Sternfeld.

This tiny little theater in Westlake, Ohio always manages to punch well above their weight class. All the elements of stage, costume, lighting, sound, props and dialect come together in this production for a stupendous evening of intrigue and mystery. A very fun evening of theater is guaranteed for all.

The Clague Playhouse production of “Angel Street” will be on stage at 1371 Clague Road, Westlake, Ohio through October 4, 2026. For tickets and more information go to http://www.clagueplayshous.org or call (440) 331-0403.