REVIEW Production of 'Uninvited' is so well-done, it's scary

The play features some special effects that are truly special.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES -- Inconsolable weeping by someone or SOMETHING in an offstage nursery.
Bone chilling cold spots in an otherwise warm room.
Well, you get the idea, and I don't want to spoil all the ghostly surprises in "The Uninvited," Trumbull New Theatre's new production that opened Friday to a delighted sold-out audience.
Under the direction of Debra Nuhfer, the play is well-acted all around, and there are some special effects that surprise and please. A word of advice, keep your eye on the large portrait over the fireplace.
Based on the 1942 book by Dorothy Macardle that was made into a movie starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, "The Uninvited" is a good old-fashioned ghost/suspense story, with a surprise ending, at least it was to me, that is not revealed until ... you guessed right again ... a play-ending seance.
All the action takes place in the sitting room of Cliff End, a stone house overlooking the Bristol Channel in the west of England that has been empty for many years.
The plot
The play opens with Roddy Fitzgerald (Geno Blair) and his sister, Pamela (Shannin Brady) deciding to buy the house from Commander Brooke (Tom Jones), who is reluctant to reopen the house because the memories it holds of his daughter, Mary Meridith,. are too painful. He keeps his granddaughter, Stella (Shaina Vencel), Mary's daughter, away from the house. But finally, Commander Brooke sells the house to Roddy and Pamela.
As they begin restoring the house, however, Roddy and Pamela soon discover it has some peculiarities, and they stir up a rivalry between two ghosts that come back from the grave to settle matters.
One of the ghosts is that of Mary Meredith and the other is a model, Carmel Casada, who posed for Mary's artist husband.
Other performances
Supporting cast members are Carol Abell as Lizzie Flynn, who just about stole the show as the amusing Irish housekeeper; Rene Penn, Cindy Marchionda, Ben Brooks, Brian Gillespie and Terri Gilbert.
"The Uninvited" is good entertainment for the entire family, although it might cause a nightmare or two in very small children ... it is about ghosts, after all.
Performances of "The Uninvited" run for three weekends, including a Sunday matinee. All Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling (330) 652-1103 between 7 and 9 p.m. weeknights and show nights.
alcorn@vindy.com