REVIEW | The Woman in Black UK Tour
Written by Hollie
Disclaimer: We were invited to watch this performance in return for an honest review.
Caution: This show includes smoke, haze, loud noises and flashing lights.
Everyone knows one ghost story and this is the story that must be told.
First written in 1983 by Susan Hill, this latest stage adaptation, which has been adapted by Stephen Mallatratt and directed by Robin Herford, relies on you as the audience to picture the scene before you and wait in suspense for the appearance of The Woman in Black.
The Woman in Black tells the story of Mr Kipps, a young solicitor who is sent to a remote village in the North of England, to sort through the documents of Mrs Alice Drablow, the owner of Eel Marsh House. A spooky and remote house in the middle of the marshes means that when the tide comes in, the house is cut off from the local village. In the village, strange things happen and the villagers feel uneasy about Mr Kipps’ presence and his business at Eel Marsh House.
Mr Kipps befriends Samuel and Jerome over time and they assist him in his time at Eel Marsh House. Strange things also happen at the house and Mr Kipps spends a dark and terrifying night there alone.
Having watched the film before, I was interested to see how this ghost story would be adapted for the stage with the location and setting of the remote village almost acting as the main character. The scenery and set created here on the UK tour by Michael Holt was subtle but clever at the same time. The use of a slanted stage caused the audience to become slightly disoriented and uneasy from the start.
The use of candlelight, shadows and darkness allows for the audience to get inside their own head and be on edge throughout the show. The audience at Nottingham consisted of family groups and students and there was a mixture of laughter and screams throughout the production! Fear and confusion are key in your part as the audience when watching the show.
The two main actors Malcolm James, as Arthur Kipps, and Mark Hawkins, as the actor, were absolutely brilliant in their roles and they were able to adapt throughout the production when they were playing different characters or when showing character development. I would really like to see them both in other productions in the future. I do feel that the adaptation let them down in parts as it was a very slow start and both acts felt like completely different productions.
The first half relied heavily on humour in order to keep the audience engaged, which in parts was funny, but for the drama and suspense, you had to wait for the second act. At times, you were lulled into a false sense of security and this was both frightening and hilarious at the same time. Along with the audience members, you felt part of something intriguing and haunting. The gasps from the audience added to the atmosphere along with the chill to the air in the auditorium.
It was great to see something completely different from a pantomime at Christmas time, and I would welcome shows such as these to be played more in theatres going forward.
★ ★ ★
The Woman in Black continues at theatres across the country in 2024 including: Theatre Royal Norwich, Grand Opera House in York, The Alexandra in Birmingham and ends at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin on 1st June 2024.
