[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Somerset Productions’ You Cannot Know the Hour, written by Katrina Wood and directed by Trace Oakley at The Sherry Theater.
You Cannot Know the Hour is a classic terror tale. An elderly man, Mr Brown, is recovering from surgery when his regular housekeeper is replaced by a mysterious nurse who insists she has been hired to help him for the next week. He protests, but she is determined to stay. However, in his weakened state, he is unable to force her to leave. As she goes about her business, cooking and cleaning, making sure he takes his medication, it becomes all too apparent that she has an ulterior motive.
To add to the intrigue, Mr Brown regularly sees and talks to his long dead wife, who appears in her disturbingly undead form. As the play unfolds, the reason that brought them all together is revealed piece by piece. Of course, the nurse is not just any nurse and the bitterness in Mr Brown’s soul and the haunting of his wife all begin to make sense.
This is a really wonderfully written spooky psychological mind game, full of unresolved darkness and strange twists and turns. You Cannot Know the Hour is a new play Katrina Wood and I have to say I absolutely loved it.
The performances were also brilliant. Raquis Da’Juan Petree as Mr Brown gave him a sinister desperation and I’m still not certain if he was a bad guy or not. Tanya Laine is the nurse and she is creepy and delightfully unhinged. Thea Lux is the dead wife who enters via the audience for the ultimate scare. Jennifer Skiffington rounds out the cast as the totally unaware housekeeper.
You Cannot Know the Hour is perfect for NoHo and The Sherry Theatre. This is what the NoHo Arts District is made for. Highly original, creative stories for small theatre! Bravo!!
Where:
The Sherry Theater
11052 Magnolia Blvd., NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
When:
February 28-March 16
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tickets:
https://cannot-know-hour.brownpapertickets.com
You Cannot Know the Hour Cast
Raquis Da’Juan Petree portrays Mr. Brown. Tanya Laine is the Nurse. Thea Lux portrays the ghostly Helen. Jennifer Skiffington is Clara, the housekeeper.
You Cannot Know the Hour Team
Trace Oakley directs. The busy helmer has directed over 50 productions throughout the country. Most recently, Dearly Departed and A Better Place. His previous collaborations with playwright Katrina Wood include Spindle City: The Lizzie Borden Musical, Bob Cratchit and Mr. Tightwad,(a musical), and The P.O.W. and the Girl (based on true events).
Playwright Katrina Wood also wrote the book music and lyrics for Spindle City the life of Lizzie Borden produced at the Secret Rose Theater in NoHo. The production was nominated for several Valley Theater awards, including Best Actor – Best Supporting Actress and Best Musical.
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