When the latest cold front swept into the Twin Cities on Sunday, it wasn't the only new arrival capable of raising goose bumps: Gremlin Theatre's production of Frederick Knott's crime drama, "Wait Until Dark," is equally chilling.

While Knott's "Dial M for Murder" is something of an intellectual cat-and-mouse game, "Wait Until Dark" is a gritty urban spine-tingler with one of the most unsympathetic villains to ever grace the stage. And thanks to a strong ensemble of actors, Gremlin's production is a discomfiting but ultimately entertaining experience.

Some may know the story from the 1967 film that featured Audrey Hepburn's Oscar-nominated performance: Through one of those airport cons that the ticketing clerks warn you about, a doll full of heroin has been inadvertently smuggled into the United States, landing in the New York apartment of a woman recently blinded in a car accident. Seeking the doll are three veteran criminals who hatch an elaborate scheme to fool her into giving it to them. But the doll is missing.

A local actor with a rapidly growing reputation, Stacia Rice so longed to play the heroine, Susy Hendrix, that she co-produced Gremlin's show. And it does hold tour de force potential, as Susy proves far too clever to accept the victim's mantle without a fight.

This production boasts strong performances from the entire cast. Ryan Parker Knox is convincing as the most emotionally accessible of the criminals, while Chesa Green does a fine job as Susy's only ally, a young neighbor.

For this solid staging, director Sarah Gioia made an intriguing choice in casting Craig Johnson as the vicious villain, Roat. Johnson is known for playing far more gentle characters, and his soft approach to this dangerous psychopath makes him all the more unnerving.

With its eerie air enhanced by Lee Fiskness' impressive lighting design, this show is a simmering anxiety fest that eventually explodes, leaving audiences (once they've finished screaming) wandering into the night looking over their shoulders. The Sunday matinees may be more inviting for the squeamish.

What: Gremlin Theatre's production of "Wait Until Dark" by Frederick Knott
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; through Feb. 27
Where: Loading Dock Theater, 509 Sibley St., St. Paul
Tickets: $16-$12; call 651-228-7008
Capsule: The strong cast makes it a chilling evening.

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