“The Angel Next Door” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

***** “The Angel Next Door” is heaven-sent. One of the best productions I’ve seen all year, Paul Slade Smith’s play is refreshingly delightful and at once captivating and clever. This romantic screwball comedy centers around what happens at a stately mansion in Newport, Connecticut, where several invited guests overhear conversations coming from the room next door. What they assume is happening between a man and a woman (who are apparently more than just singing partners) could well be interpreted in different ways. Adapted from Ferenc Molnar’s “A Play at the Castle”, the story is basically a play within a play, as well as a spoof on what it means to be a “theatre person”, that is, an actor, scriptwriter, prompter, or some other professional who makes the theatre their career.

Smartly directed by Linda Fortunato, the play is about how Oliver Adams (Garrett Lutz) has crafted a gorgeously-written novel but has not yet signed a contract with Simon & Schuster to turn it into a bestseller. At the same time, Arthur Sanders (Sean Fortunato) and his wife Charlotte Sanders (Katy Sullivan) have already invested money to develop the book into a Broadway play, so it is in their best interest to have Oliver sign the publishing contract as soon as possible. Oliver’s manuscript, entitled “The Angel Next Door” is all about his “girlfriend” Margot Bell (Aja Alcazar). Although the two met only once, he apparently wrote all sorts of love letters to her, which she then answered in a timely fashion. The novel is supposed to be an extended love letter to Margot, and ideally, he would like her to read it before its publication. But he’s been too shy to present it to her. The play begins when Arthur, Charlotte, and Oliver have accepted Margot’s invitation to hear her sing in a concert outside of New York City, and this involves a weekend stay at a ritzy mansion. Whereas the couple sees the occasion as one where they could all get together to celebrate the new novel and its subsequent production on Broadway, Oliver is more excited about the prospect of seeing Margot again and likely showing her his manuscript. But the “point of no return” occurs when the recognizable voices of Margot and her presumed lover Victor Pratt (Andrés Enriquez) come through the wall of the room next door—and everybody becomes privy to their hot and heavy tête-à-tête. Oliver, now emotionally devastated, wants to be alone to wail and cry, intent on tearing up his precious manuscript of over 300 pages.

Olga (Erin Noel Grennan), the unrestrained manager of the mansion, is the glue that holds the story together. Grennan, in an extraordinary performance, is hauntingly expressionless, and her character is unfazed by the people and circumstances surrounding her. A nod to the Hungarian roots of Ferenc Molnar, she is definitely no wallflower. Scary and fussy, she offers her opinions freely: straightaway expressing her cynicism about theatre people while commenting on Margot’s alleged promiscuity (which, incidentally, is apparent to everybody but Oliver). All the while, she begrudgingly caters to the houseguests and fulfills their requests for food, champagne, and creature comforts. Grennan’s acting is exceptional, and an opening night crowd gave her an especially hearty round of applause.

The script neatly incorporates varying perspectives on love, sex, and romance as well as the devotion of two married partners to each other and their dedication to their young friend Oliver, whom they want to see succeed as an author and playwright. But when unexpected circumstances complicate good intentions, lies morph into seeming truths—and truths morph into seeming lies. We also observe actors in the role of actors—in a play that’s about the development of a play. Yet it is the combination of the characters’ situational misunderstandings that provides the basis for much of the humor. (Plus, on opening night, the secondary plot works extremely well for an audience largely consisting of theatre critics and social network influencers.)

Set design by Jack Magaw is perfect. Five doors in total on the back and sides of the stage play an important part in the storyline. And the stage is the perfect size to depict the large bedroom in the manor house, with lavender-gray wallpaper as a lovely backdrop. Props by Paloma Locsin include French modern chairs, a tiffany lamp, lamps with tasseled shades on either side of the fluffy bed, brocade draperies, an Oriental rug on the floor, and an oil painting on the wall, all of which confer some amount of wealth and status. Costume design by Kärin Kopischke is well-suited for this performance. Lighting by Christine A. Binder and sound by Josh Schmidt and Dee Etti-Williams are nicely done.

With all the frequent mischaracterizations, missteps, and mishaps compounded by a clandestine lovers’ tryst, there’s lots of fodder for great entertainment. But at rock bottom, what is so impressive about this play is that it works on so many levels, together with so many comedic elements that make this show so marvelous to watch! If not for the thin walls between rooms, the story would lack its juiciness and titillation. What did everybody really hear?

Northlight Theatre’s production of “The Angel Next Door” is a MUST SEE!

“The Angel Next Door” is playing through May 10, 2026, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, in the North Theatre.

Tickets: $46-$98 plus additional fees

Students: $15 for any performance, subject to availability

Performance schedule:

Wednesdays – 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays and Fridays – 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays – 2:30 p.m. (except during the month of April) and 7:30 p.m.

Accessible performances:

Audio Description/Touch Tour: Saturday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Open Captioning: Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 at 2:30 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to: https://northlight.org/series/the-angel-next-door/?utm_source=cbc_cde&utm_medium=cbc_PopUp&utm_campaign=TheAngelNextDoor2026, or call 847-673-6300,

or visit the box office at 9501 Skokie Blvd., in Skokie.

For general information or to learn about Northlight Theatre’s other offerings, see: https://northlight.org/.

Note that Northlight Theatre will be moving to their new home in downtown Evanston beginning in Fall 2026, and this play is the last in the season that is taking place at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Angel Next Door”.