14 Apr 2018 ‘Angel Street’ at Harding

The Harding University Department of Theatre will present Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 classic thriller “Angel Street” at 7 p.m. April 19-21 in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center. The show is directed by Assistant Professor Ben Jones.

“The audience can expect a story filled with mystery and suspense,” Jones said. “The excitement of this play is not knowing who to trust or what is real or imagined. From the very beginning you know something is not quite right, but even as the story unfolds in front of you, you are left to question how much of it is truth or fiction.”

“Angel Street,” also known by its British title “Gas Light,” remains one of Broadway’s longest running, record-setting non-musicals and is considered one of the great classics of the mystery genre.

The play focuses on a seemingly normal couple, the Manninghams, who live on Angel Street in 1880 London. Mr. Manningham, played by junior Zeke Whiteside, is slowly driving his wife, Bella, played by junior Annie Wilkinson, to the edge of madness by sowing seeds of doubt that cause her to question reality. The term “gaslighting” originates from the play’s title and has come into modern use as a word that means to manipulate someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.

“I’m excited to take the audience on a journey questioning the motives and sanity of our major characters,” Jones said. “In fiction, there are frequently ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys,’ but in life it is harder to classify people. This play is more like life in that it is harder to understand each character’s true motives at first.”

Tickets can be purchased for $10 at hardingtickets.com or at the door. For more information, contact the box office at 501-279-4255. For other Harding events and free and low cost services available to the public, visit harding.edu/community. 

“Angel Street” is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.