Astoria — The Liberty Theater presents its fall Reader’s Theater production at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1, 2, 8 and 9 in the McTavish Room.

Known as “Angel Street” in the U.S. and “Gas Light” in the U.K., this 1938 British play tells the story of the Manninghams who live on Angel Street in 19th century London. As the curtain rises, all appears the essence of Victorian tranquility. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the suavely handsome Jack Manningham is slowly driving his gentle, devoted wife, Bella, to the brink of insanity with an insinuating kindness masking his sinister motives.

While he is out, Bella has an unexpected caller: amiable, paternal Inspector Rough from Scotland Yard. Rough is convinced that Jack is a homicidal maniac wanted for a murder committed 15 years earlier in the house. Gradually, the inspector helps Bella restore her confidence as the evidence against her husband unfolds.

Rough convinces Bella to assist him in exposing Jack as the murderer, which she does, but not before she takes revenge on Jack by pretending to help him escape. At the last minute she reminds him that, having gone insane, she is not accountable for her actions.

In this play, playwright Patrick Hamilton built and sustained some of the most brilliant, suspenseful sequences in modern theater. This play gave rise to the term “gaslighting” as a form of psychological abuse in which false information is presented to the victim with the intent of making him or her doubt his or her own memory and perception.

Sen Incavo will play Jack Manningham. Susan Wentworth will play Bella Manningham. Tom Berdine plays Inspector Rough. Lori Wilson Honl plays Elizabeth, and Carly Keone plays Nancy.

Tickets cost $15. The Liberty Theater is located at 1203 Commercial St. The box office is open from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and two hours before the show; call 503-325-5922, ext. 55. Tickets may also be purchased through TicketsWest by calling 503-224-8499 or at ticketswest.com

‘Angel Street’

7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1, 2, 8 and 9

Liberty Theater

1203 Commercial St., Astoria

503-325-5922

$15