The Angel Next Door
After 50 years of productions and nearly 30 years at the North Shore Center, Northlight's 2025-26 Season will be their last in Skokie as we prepare to open our own home in Evanston. In its last performance, Northlight Theatre presents a delightful and witty play, The Angel Next Door. Premiered in 2023 as a co-production between the North Coast Repertory Theatre and the Laguna Playhouse. Written by Paul Slade Smith, it is a witty comedy based on the adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's Play at the Castle, a classic Hungarian play titled The Play's the Thing. Set in 1948 at a mansion on the Newport coast, the play begins when two playwrights, Arthur and Charlotte Sanders, arrange a meeting with a young novelist, Oliver, whose novel is about to be published and soon to be adapted for the Broadway stage! He has written the novel, The Angel Next Door, for the love of his life, Margot. The Sanders' recent play has boomed, and, in hopes of alleviating their financial struggles, they arrange a celebration for Oliver signing the contract to publish his book and a meeting with Margot at the mansion in the room next door. Oliver informed the playwrights that, before he signs the contract to publish the book so they can script a play, he wants Margot's approval. The conflict arises when they realize that Oliver, who has only seen Margot once and whose only connection to her has been through several romantic letters, has never told her about the book, and when Oliver overhears Margot and her former flame, Victor Pratt, The Baritone with the Golden Voice, kissing and discussing their recent love escapades. Feeling betrayed, Oliver tears up the contract and threatens to destroy the novel and end the play's production. To save the show, Charlotte frantically writes a new scene overnight, using every word Oliver heard in the play to convince him he was at a rehearsal.
The Angel Next Door is a refreshing comdic theatrical performance. This well-written play brings out the charm of theater. It's the kind of performance that reminds you why live storytelling is so captivating. The cast masterfully brings to life a delightful mix of humor and charm, engaging the audience. "That's there, but technically not there," where the audience's presence feels both real and inaccessible. It plays on the idea that, while the characters and their stories come to life on stage, the audience's physical presence is invisible, seen only in the actors' minds. This Fourth Wall concept doesn't always work; however, with their chemistry, witty dialogue, banter, and flawless performances that seamlessly blur the line between reality and the world of the play, the actors masterfully pull it off.
Director Linda Fortunato has assembled a fantastic cast, including Aja Alcazar, Andres Enriques, Sean Fortunato, Erin Noel Grennan, Garrett Lutz, and Katy Sullivan. Each actor brought their unique charm and flair to the stage. Garrett Lutz's humorous blend of Oliver's emotions, capturing the character's vulnerability, makes the audience laugh and empathize with him. Aja Alcazar brings refined elegance and grace to her role as the prima donna, Margot, while Sean Fortunato shines as the witty, melancholic playwright, with Katy Sullivan as the sharp-witted playwright who saves the date. Still, Erin Noel Grennan truly stood out in her role as Olga, the droll, apathetic housekeeper who despises "Theater People," delivering an exceptional performance that captivated the audience. The stage and costume design create a complementary atmosphere, enhancing the play's comedic and charming elements. The costume is reflective of the era, while the stage, featuring four doors, cleverly serves as a physical bridge between the characters' reality and the concept of the Fourth Wall, reinforcing the idea that, while the characters live their lives fully in front of the audience, an invisible barrier remains between them and those observing. Together, they help submerge the audience in the story. The Angel Next Door is the kind of show that reminds us why we love the magic of the stage. It's an unforgettable experience that leaves everyone smiling and laughing.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northlight Theatre
The Angel Next Door
By Paul Slade Smith
Directed by Linda Fortunato
April 9 - May 10, 2026
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