By Kate Bobby
Welcome to 19th century London and the well-appointed hearth and home of the Manninghams of Angel Street. At first glance, there would not seem to be a happier couple than your host and hostess for the evening. At first glance.
The Victorian melodrama “Angel Street” unfolds for audiences at Queens Theatre in the Park starting Sat., Jan. 15, marking the start of a New York tour that will bring the QTIP production to four additional venues: The Emelin Theater in Mamaroneck (Jan. 26-30); Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (Feb. 3-6); the Music Hall of Snug Harbor in Staten Island (Feb. 23-27); and the Egg in Albany (March 3-4).
“Audiences really respond to this play, so it's great to be bringing it to Queens Theatre in the Park. It is a very solid mystery with some dark, psychological undercurrents that set it apart from other plays of its kind,” said QTIP Associate Artistic Director Rob Urbinati, whose off-Broadway “Angel” (at Manhattan's Pearl Street Theater) earned rave reviews in several newspapers, The New York Times among them (“A marvelous romp…”). “So, it's not Shakespeare. It's not Moliere. But, it's not (Neil Simon's) 'Barefoot in the Park' either. It takes off in some unexpected directions. It surprises its audiences, which is why it is such an enduring work.”
The Patrick Hamilton play, which debuted in 1938, made it to Broadway in 1941 (with legendary screen villain Vincent Price in the lead) and enjoyed a four-year run of 1,295 performances. From there, the tale of “Angel Street” – about a husband who may or may not be trying to drive his wife mad – then made it to the big screen as the 1944 classic, “Gaslight,” starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer as the curious couple in question.
“The playwright is said to have hated the film actually,” said Urbinati with a laugh. “I think the film is fine but Hamilton's story was vastly changed for the onscreen translation. So, it's true that anyone expecting to see 'Gaslight' when they come to see 'Angel Street' is in for a nice surprise because the play is much better.”
Urbinati, in between directing shows for QTIP, keeps plenty of other irons in the fire. This director, a former theater consultant for Home Box Office, has just finished writing the screenplay of his own critically acclaimed play, “Hazelwood Junior High,” in response to Hollywood's interest in the work. The play, which debuted at Manhattan's New Group theater and featured rising star film actress Chloe Sevigny, opened to strong reviews and sparked the interest of the film industry.
“Grimly enough, the story of 'Hazelwood' is timely. It struck a chord because of all of the school shootings in recent months, although there hadn't been any in the headlines at the time I was actually writing the play,” said Urbinati. “While 'Hazelwood' is not about a school shooting per se, it is about the spectre of teen violence, so when school slayings started making the headlines, my play drew some major attention.”
Ironically, the fact that actress Sevigny is the star at the center of another story about teens and violence – the critically acclaimed film “Boys Don't Cry,” – has also piqued the film industry's interest in Urbinati's play.
“I would be thrilled if my screenplay is optioned,” said Urbinati, “but I know enough not to celebrate unless something actually happens. So, I just continue to do what I love to do – write and direct plays.”
So, while waiting for the word on his screenplay, Urbinati is not content to wait in the wings. Indeed, he is thrilled to revisit “Angel Street.”
“It's wonderful to direct plays for Queens Theatre in the Park. The audiences are New York audiences in that they are tough, demanding… they know good theater when they see it,” said the director. “But, I also think Theater in the Park audiences are a little bit warmer when they like something. They really express their appreciation and of course I just love that.”
“Angel Street” stars: Broadway performer Susanna Fraser; Yale Rep Theater alumnus John Little; Broadway veteran Patricia Guinan and British actor, Vernon Morris.
“Angel Street” will run at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sat., Jan. 15 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sun., Jan. 16. Additionally, it will run: Wed., Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sun. Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.
Tickets to Angel Street are $24 for general admission, $22 for seniors ($18 for the Wednesday matinee), $18 for members, and $15 for audiences 7-17. Group rates are available.
Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Call 760-0064 for more information.
