Cast from Woodinville Rep’s production of Angel Street: Asher Wheeler (Cop1), Jag (Jack Manningham), Freja Jorgensen (Nancy), Teri Thomas (Elizabeth), Savannah Kinzer (Bella Manningham), Patrick Hogan (Detective Rough), Farid Abuid (Cop2) Photo by Sandro Manzel

The Woodinville Repertory Theatre recently finished a successful run of Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play Angel Street. You may know the show as Gaslight, the famous film from the 1940s that won Ingrid Bergman her first best-actress Oscar. 

Ostensibly a thriller set in Victorian London, the play also offers – and our cast and crew delivered — an unflinching view of spousal abuse, both mental and physical, that resonates today. 

The play revolves around Bella Manningham, a vulnerable young woman living in constant fear due to her husband Jack employing manipulative, even brutal tactics to undermine her sanity, leading her to question her own perceptions of reality.

Domestic violence remains a pervasive issue that affects countless individuals in the United States and across the globe. It is a topic that demands attention, awareness, and understanding. 

Live theater, if done right, has the power to shed intense light on this crucial issue and others as well. 

The audiences who attended our show were often profoundly moved by the experience. The applause at the end of each performance was loud and sustained, with many women and men standing and cheering. 

Angel Street not only highlights the devastating effects of domestic violence. Domestic abuse, the play reminds us, extends far beyond physical harm. When the play opens, it is clear that Bella is terrified she might do something that might cause her husband to erupt with torrents of verbal abuse. Her sense of self-worth and identity are crushed.

By bringing this important story to the stage, we wanted the play to raise awareness and fostering conversations around the issue. As a society, it is crucial that we continue to support and empower survivors.

We are proud of how successfully our production of Angel Street highlighted the issues and moved our audiences.

We want to leave you with some resources to tap into if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse. Some of these resources were included in our Angel Street program, and we hope they reach the folks who may find them useful.

King County

New Beginnings: This Seattle-based organization offers comprehensive services, including a 24-hour helpline, emergency shelter, advocacy, and counseling for domestic violence survivors. Visit their website at: https://www.newbegin.org/

LifeWire: LifeWire provides a range of services, including a helpline, emergency shelter, support groups, and legal advocacy for those impacted by domestic violence in East King County. Learn more at: https://www.lifewire.org/

Snohomish County

Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County: This organization offers crisis intervention, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, and support groups for domestic violence survivors. Explore their services at: https://www.dvs-snoco.org/

YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish County: YWCA provides a 24-hour crisis line, shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups for individuals affected by domestic violence. Find more information at: https://www.ywcaworks.org/

Pierce County

Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline, 253-798-4166 or 1-800-764-2420
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit, 253-798-7530

Crystal Judson Family Justice Center
https://www.familyjusticecenter.us