by Lucille Fletcher

Directed by Nathan Villarreal

April 29 - May 22, 2011
Friday and Saturday Evenings 8:00 p.m.
Sunday Matinees 2:30 p.m.

If you like sitting on the edge of your seat and biting your nails, you’ve got to see NightWatch, opening April 29th at the Playhouse. It’s full of suspense, some terror and a whole lot of plot twists and turns that keep you guessing, maybe scared, but thoroughly entertained. NightWatch was written by Lucille Fletcher and was the basis for a 1973 movie by the same name and starring the late Elizabeth Taylor.

Troubled by unsettling memories and vague fears, Elaine Wheeler is unable to sleep and paces the living room of her Manhattan townhouse. Her husband, John, tries to comfort her but when he steps away for a moment, Elaine screams as she sees (or believes she sees) the body of a dead man in the window across the way. The police are called, but find nothing except an empty chair. Elaine’s terror grows and shortly after that she experiences another equally frightening trauma. By now the police are skeptical and pay no heed to her frantic pleas. John, claiming that Elaine may be on the verge of a breakdown, calls in a lady psychiatrist, who agrees with his suggestion that Elaine should commit herself to a sanitarium for treatment.

The plot moves quickly and grippingly with this cast of characters actively adding to the suspense: Elaine’s old friend and house guest Blanche; Appleby, the inquisitive and rather sinister man who lives next door; the nosy German maid Helga; and Lieutenant Walker, the beleaguered and skeptical police investigator. An array of other interesting characters all contributes to the deepening suspense and mystery of the play as it draws towards its riveting and chilling climax.

Night Watch is directed by Nathan Villarreal, a popular and frequent visitor to our Playhouse. Nathan is usually associated with big musical productions, both as a very talented entertainer and as a director. He was delighted to accept the director’s job for Night Watch because it allowed him to take his many years of live theatre experience and put it into a much different form of entertainment. His last appearance at the Playhouse was as Littlechap in Stop The World, I Want to Get Off.

Supporting Nathan in key production positions are: Adam Witko, Exec. Producer; Christie Yowell, Set Designer and Decorator; Calvin White, SoundDesigner; and Jason Jones, Lighting Designer.

The cast includes: Celeste Villarreal, who has appeared often on stage with thePlayerssince the age of 12, is ElaineWheeler; Chris Kelly, newto the Playhouse, is Elaine’s husband John Wheeler; Kimberly Suarez, last seen in Stop The World, playsElaine’s friend, Blanche Cooke; Kate Conroy just appeared at the Playhouse in The Heiress and is Helgathe maid; Guy Ben-Moshe, appearing frequently atthe Playhouse, is next door neighbor Curtis Appleby; Gary Yowell, also a popular Playhouse regular, is police Lieutenant Walker; Carl Galante is a frequent Playhouse talent and plays police detective Vanelli; Ashley Errico, another welcome newcomer to the Playhouse, is psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Lake; and Bill Claussen, a first timer with the Players, is Sam Hoke.

Night Watch runs from April 29 – May 22. Evening performances are Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 each ($20 each opening night including a wine and cheese pre-show reception at 7 p.m.) and may be purchased at any time on-line at www.wimberleyplayers.org. The Box Office is open prior to each performance weekend during the following days and hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 2 – 5 p.m., Fridays 2 - 6 p.m. Call 847-0575 and leave a message.