Want to be scared? See ‘Wait Until Dark’

The doll inadvertently wound up in the apartment after someone secretly hid it in the luggage of commercial photographer Sam (Sahil Singh). The crooks think it’s in his apartment.

While Sam is away on business, they use subterfuge against Sam’s blind young wife, Susan (Sarah Jiang), who knows nothing about it.

One of the crooks, Carlino (Stefan Fisher), pretends to be a cop looking for information about a murdered woman whose body was found near the apartment.

Another, Mike (Ryan Tasker), says he’s an Army buddy whom Sam saved. At first he’s convincing to both Susan and the audience. He seems helpful, but suspicions start to emerge.

Finally, there’s the ruthless, villainous Roat (Scott Coopwood). In the final scenes, he and Susan engage in a dangerous life-and-death battle with one terrifying move after another.

Although Susan is blind, her other senses have sharpened. For example, her hearing is so keen that she knows that two of her visitors, despite pretending to be two different men, have the same shoes and way of walking.

Her blindness also gives her an advantage against Roat in her darkened apartment.

Completing the cast is Mia Rapoport as Gloria, a neighbor girl who has been helping Susan. At first she seems like a brat, but she proves to be a valuable ally.

Director Vickie Rozell carefully ramps up the tension as the action takes place one evening and the following afternoon. She has selected a top-notch cast with each actor fully inhabiting his or her character.

Jiang’s convincing performance as the blind Susan was aided by consultant Walter T. Raineri from the Bay Area’s Vista Center, which serves the blind and visually impaired.

Sarah Phykitt designed the set. One of its key elements is a refrigerator, called an ice box in those days.

Lighting is by Ed Hunter with sound by Jeff Mockus and costumes by Courtney Middleditch-Morgan.

Running about two hours and 10 minutes with an intermission, “Wait Until Dark” will continue through Nov. 3 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.

For tickets and information call (650) 349-6411or visit hillbarntheatre.org.