Arizona Theatre Company Unveils Deceived: A Gripping New Take on a Classic Thriller

This fall, Arizona Theatre Company invites audiences into their haunted house and the shadowy world of Deceived, a tense and timely new psychological thriller that reimagines the classic 1938 stage play Gaslight for a modern audience. Directed by Jenn Thompson, Deceived explores the fragile nature of memory, perception, and the subtle – but devastating – power of manipulation.

Laakan McHardy in Arizona Theatre Company’s “Deceived.” Photos by Tim Fuller

At the center of the story is Bella, a woman struggling to make sense of increasingly strange occurrences in her home. As the lines between reality and illusion blur, Bella begins to question her own sanity. 

Is she imagining things? Or is someone deliberately pushing her to the edge? 

Her search for the truth becomes a fight for her own autonomy, as paranoia, distrust, and emotional manipulation close in around her. If the premise sounds unsettlingly familiar, it should. The play that inspired Deceived – Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight – is the origin of the widely used term “gaslighting.”

Laakan McHardy and Tony Roach

Defined as “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage,” the word was Merriam-Webster’s 2022 Word of the Year, reflecting its resurgence in popular culture.

While Gaslight has been adapted many times (most famously in the 1944 film starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer) this version by adaptors Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson brings new perspective and urgency to the narrative, tightening the suspense and placing stronger emphasis on character agency, particularly Bella’s. 

Laakan McHardy and Amelia White

Arizona Theatre Company’s production features a celebrated creative team that includes Tony-nominated scenic designer Alexander Dodge, costume designer Patrick Holt, Broadway lighting designer Philip Rosenberg, and award-winning sound designer Jane Shaw working closely with acclaimed, Drama Desk-nominated director Jenn Thompson to bring Deceived to life with period detail and emotional depth.

With its razor-sharp storytelling, Deceived promises to be more than just a thriller…it’s a reflection on how truth can be twisted, memory can be weaponized, and identity can be stolen in plain sight. Tickets are available in Tucson until October 18, and in Tempe from October 25-November 9. Learn more at atc.org.

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