The Woman in Black, a spooky play based on the 1983 book by Susan Hill takes to the stage in the King’s Theatre this week. It has been a popular West End hit, long piquing the interest of theatre audiences for over 30 years in the famous Fortune Theatre in London and enjoyed a renaissance after the film version starring Daniel Radcliffe debuted in cinemas in 2012.
The “play within a play” tells the story of lawyer Arthur Kipps (Robert Goodale) who is extremely disturbed by a curse he believes has plagued his family with the ghostly Woman In Black.
Kipps employs a talented actor (Daniel Easton) to help him tell his traumatic story to his family and friends and free him from constant nightmares.
As the pair work together to bring the story to life on stage, the realms of reality and fantasy starts to blur as the tale becomes more terrifying and the tension builds to the dramatic finale.
The simple one scene set design in the theatre relies heavily on lightening and sound effects with the storytelling on stage to prompt the audience to use their imagination as they tell the story.
The first act is a little monotonous as the longer narratives that build the story can leave the performance lacking in action.
However, the second half is full of creepy moments with simplistic yet positively scary effects. Plenty of high pitched screams, doors flying open and jump out your seat moments had the audience suitably on edge as the tension was palpable.
The production is demanding for the players as it features only two speaking parts, however both actors on stage give commendable performances as they deliver dramatic storytelling.
Director Robin Herford comments on the continued appeal of this production: “It is the magic of theatre, made possible only by that most precious and under-used commodities, the audience’s imagination. This piece relies extremely heavily on it, as all good theatre should. Add to it the skill and proficiency of talented performers and technicians, along with a wonderfully gripping story, and the recipe is extremely promising. But most of all, if you have a good evening here tonight, it is largely thanks to the potency of your own imagination.”
An interesting production for those who like a good ghost story. Tickets available until Saturday 22nd February.