Photograph courtesy of the Repertory Theatre-St. Louis
From October 14 to November 8, catch the chilling Angel Street (Gaslight) at The Rep. Originally titled Gaslight, this psychological thriller is about a young woman, Bella, in 1880s London who thinks that she’s going crazy, because her husband, Jack, keeps accusing Bella of playing tricks on him. But she can’t remember doing any of the things her domineering husband accuses her of. A detective finally tells Bella that she’s not crazy, and that everything is happening for a reason. But will the truth save her or finally push her over the edge?
Gaslight premiered in 1938, and was made into a movie with Ingrid Bergman. The play actually helped coin the psychological term “gaslighting”—making someone question their sanity through manipulative doubt creation.
Despite Bella and Jack’s nuptial nightmare, there is one good marriage in the play—backstage at least. Geoffrey Wade (who appeared on Mad Men, The Mentalist, NCIS, and is slated to appear in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG) plays Rough, the detective who offers Bella hope. Wade’s wife, Amelia White (who has appeared on Judging Amy and in numerous plays), plays Elizabeth, the maid who tries to help Bella hold herself together despite her husband’s manipulations.
Though White and Wade seem like good guys, the play has a few twists. “People will be gasping and trying to follow what’s going on,” says Wade. “Who’s the good guy? Who’s the bad guy? You’re not quite sure sometimes.”
The couple met at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London (White is from England, Wade is an American) and have been married for more than 30 years. As members of the same theater company, they’ve played opposite each other often, and have even played married couples before: in Lincoln: Upon the Altar of Freedom, they played Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. In A.R. Gurney’s play Sylvia, they played the central married couple, and they also played a couple that never quite connects in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.
“The upside is that we have developed a shorthand over the years,” says White. “We can read each other on stage really well.”
Surprisingly, the two like it best when they’re arguing or sparring on stage.
“We can get it out of our system on stage,” says White. “We just hug each other at the end of it. Having spent all day bickering and taking offense, it kind of clears the air for a little while.”
In Angel Street, the two don’t spar. But “it’s a fun show because it’ll have such an effect on the audience,” says wade.
“So much fun to scare people,” adds White with a laugh.
Towards the end of our conversation, their 30-plus year repartee becomes apparent. “It’s been a wonderful life in the theater,” White says, “whether we could work together or not.” She turns to Wade. “Are you happy?”
“Yeah!” Wade replies.
“You better be!” she says with a laugh. Wade laughs too.
“I’m happy!” He says.
Angel Street (Gaslight) runs through November 8 at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar. Tickets are $17.50–$79.50. Performances are 7 p.m. Tuesday, 8 p.m. Wednesday–Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m.. Sunday (except October 25). Additional performances happen Sat at 8 p.m. on October 31 and November 7, and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday October 21 and November 4. For more information, call 314-968-4925, or visit repstl.org.
