CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL STATES `WAIT UNTIL DARK'

Central high drama teacher Cynthia Wyatt thought she'd find some thing different for this year's fall play, a change from the comedies that are high school theater's meat and potatoes.

The choice was the thriller "Wait Until Dark," a play that made being afraid of the dark quite understandable.

In the movie version, Audrey Hepburn plays a blind woman victimized by con men searching for a doll filled with heroin. By using her wits and acute other senses, she figures out at least part of the scheme and ultimately turns the tables on them. But that doesn't occur before the terror inherent in the situation -- a blind person alone in a house with a killer -- is fully explored.

"I tried to find some variety for the kids," Wyatt said in explaining her selection of the dark thriller, "something that's more of a challenge."

Wyatt said this is an especially good and hardworking group of students.

She describes students coming to work at 7 a.m. to paint sets before their first class. "They have an incredible work ethic," she said.

When adults criticize teen-agers in general because a few get into trouble, Wyatt gets angry. "These kids are so much above that but they get blamed because they're teen-agers," she says.

"...Instead of condemnable they're commendable."

The experience of putting together a thriller has turned out to be very different indeed.

"Every night is so intense," Wyatt said. "It keeps your emotions so tense."

The Hepburn role is being played by senior Ginny Overholser, who most recently appeared in the River City Players' production of "Greater Tuna." Sophomore Jacob Kennedy has the role of her husband Sam, who is the unwitting link to the bad guys.

Playing Roat, the play's sadistic villain, is junior Nick Ryan, who previously has been cast as more positive eccentrics. Senior Adam Davis as Mike and senior Dax Miller as Carlino play Roat's accomplices.

Freshman Maggie Clark has the role of the bratty 9-year-old Gloria.

Playing police officers are Trend Redfearn and Tracie Ramage.

The student director is Kelly Hilterbrand, with Robert Friedrich providing technical direction. The stage manager is Matt Roark and the faculty advisor is Kathy Davenport.