The Woman In Black
Fortune Theatre
Russell St, WC2B 5HH
£37.50 (top price stalls seats)
Stephen Mallatratt's production of the Woman In Black has been on the West End since 1989 and is the second longest running non-musical play in west end history. The Fortune Theatre was once described as 'this most intimate of theatres', a perfect setting for one of the most spine tingling theatrical experiences of your life. I have seen the Woman in Black once before, back in 2009 as part of a Drama school trip. Even then, sat in the back row of the upper dress circle, I found the show genuinely terrifying, so decided to re-book almost a decade later, but this time in the stalls, 3rd row.
Susan Hill's original story follows a lawyer who is obsessed with a curse he supposes has been cast over him and his family. He employs an actor to help him tell his story to others, however, the deeper the two men delve into the story of the Woman in Black the more they wish they had never begun. It was first notable for only having two actors for the entire show, not counting the woman in black of course... as... well... her existence is down to interpretation.
Returning for a second time, the show was exactly as I remembered it. The run down set of the play helped to create an eerie atmosphere and helped us visualise the decade it is set (around 1910). However, the acting for me this time around was even better. James Byng (the actor) and Terence Wilton (Arthur Kipps) were absolutely fantastic, neither outshining the other, and both working excellently as a pair.
The show was less scary than I remember it, but having said that, I guess it only makes sense that I was more scared when I was 14. Nevertheless, the dramatic effect of the production was just as powerful and well executed as I remembered. With minimal props and special effects, the power of both the acting and imagination of direction shines through enormously. The show is great at building suspense and then using sound effects to make you jump and recoil, there were moments of genuine fear, although this was more through surprise and shock rather than horror.
The Woman in Black is a must-see, through effortless and flawless acting it is a work of dramatic brilliance, even if it doesn't quite scare your socks off. There is a reason that this show consistently receives rave reviews, and a reason why it has remained at the west end for so long - go and see for yourselves why.
OVERALL RATING: ****
http://thewomaninblack.com/
