Katie Kleiger as Bella and Zack Powell as Jack. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
“Deceived” is a suspense-filled thriller written in 2024 by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson and adapted for modern audiences from the 1938 play “Gaslight” by Patrick Hamilton. As a result of the original play, writers began denominalizing the title to use the term “gaslighting” to refer to a form of mental abuse in which a person is manipulated into questioning his/her own sanity. The play has become a favorite for regional theatres and fits nicely into the annual December tradition of Everyman Theatre’s production of a murder mystery. The play questions who is being deceived and who is the deceiver, and explores themes of psychological control, relationship manipulation, and paranoia. Unlike the original play, this adaptation focuses on the female protagonist and her journey of self-discovery and resilience.
Beautifully and artfully directed by artistic director Vince Lancisi, this play, once again, demonstrates the value of casting repertory company members in conjunction with guest actors.
The setting is an upper middle class home on Angel Street in the Pimlico area of fog-bound London in 1901. The cast has been reduced to four characters: Jack Manningham, his wife Bella, their housekeeper, Elizabeth, and the maid, Nancy. Beautifully and artfully directed by artistic director Vince Lancisi, this play, once again, demonstrates the value of casting repertory company members in conjunction with guest actors.
The play’s four characters make many entrances and exits from all directions over many scenes. Mr. Lancisi manages to keep the action constantly moving as the actors’ characters develop within the plot. This is one of his last stints as stage director before retiring at the end of the season and a fitting tribute to his skill as a leader for his cast, crew, and staff. Resident company members Zach Powell as Jack, Katie Kleiger as Bella, and Deborah Hazlett as Elizabeth, with guest actor Em Whitworth as Nancy have established such strong characters that you are immediately drawn into the plot. Their expressive faces and strong delivery keep the audience guessing as the story enfolds. The first act sets up the plot mainly through dialogue with limited action, but the play builds in intensity. The second act offered more excitement as the characters reacted to mounting tension and resolution. I especially enjoyed how the housekeeper and maid kept me guessing as to with whom they were in collusion.
Scenic designer Daniel Ettinger has executed a magnificent set in a wealthy Victorian home, replete with beautiful furniture, a large staircase, and impressive backdrop of buildings facing a London street with two standing street lights. David Burdick’s costumes fit the era, from Jack’s stuffy business attire to Bella’s stylish Victorian layered dresses, the standard drab clothes of a housekeeper, and the maid’s cap and apron. Lighting designer Harold F. Burgess II added much to the overall effect. He used surtitles on the upper proscenium to indicate the day and time of each scene, provided backlighting for the morning sun, gas lamp sconces for the maid to light and put out, glowing embers to be stirred in the fireplace, and a desk lamp. These creative artists are also resident company members, collaborating on various productions. Guest sound designer Sun Lee Kil provided simply stunning prologue and scene-change music, replete with suspenseful and scary flute and string music which helped to keep the audience on edge. The sounds of mysterious walking upstairs, the huge frightening thunderclaps, the ringing servants’ bell—all executed through many speakers hidden from view—added to the experience.
For those unfamiliar with the 1944 Oscar-winning movie, “Deceived” will stand on its own as a spine-tingling addition to the “murder mystery” collective. For the movie buffs, the play will not only answer the “whodunnit” question, but also entertain you with new twists and turns as the victim discovers and resolves the situation through finding clues, sheer determination, and strength of character. My recommendation is to quickly purchase tickets for an early holiday present and a delightful evening of another story well-told.
Running Time: Two hours and 35 minutes including one intermission.
“Deceived” runs through January 4, 2026, at Everyman Theatre, 315 West Fayette Street, Baltimore MD 21201. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call the Box Office at 410-752-2208 Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 5 pm or go online. The Box Office is also open two hours before each performance for walk-up sales.
