Who knew that being scared could be so much fun? We reckon that could be the mantra for THE WOMAN IN BLACK which is on stage at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week.
I have to confess I’ve seen this show numerous times, both on tour and during it’s incredibly long run in London’s West End. In fact, it has the honour of being the second longest running play in London – ever.
No matter how many times I’ve watched the show, no matter how certain I think I remember what’s about to happen, it still gets me.
Even though you know what’s coming there is something about the show which draws you in, from the moment you walk into the theatre.
Whether it’s the anticipation from the audience, or the simple fact that spirits have inhabited the New Theatre, I don’t know (it’s the former by the way). This is an absolute classic ghost story with a with a fantastic tale. As you sit there, with a relatively simple staging, two actors and a really scary – actually, let’s leave it at that for now.
If you’ve not seen The Woman in Black before, coming in, relatively uninformed, is a good thing. Without any spoilers whatsoever, I can tell you it is chilling, creepy, tense and filled with surprises, which will lift you from your seat on more than one occasion. As I said, I’ve seen the show multiple times and it still got me.
I guess this is the perfect point to bring in some reaction from the opening night audience. Once again, no spoilers here…….
With only two actors in the production (ish) MALCOLM JAMES as Arthur Kipps and MARK HAWKINS as The Actor, praise has to go to them for the superb way they guide us through the story. They naturally transport us through a play within a play, with such dramatic and eerie ease. A little word of warning, they are very good at pulling you into the plot, until one of the other stars of the show – the lighting and sound designer, hit us with the unexpected.
I guarantee you’ll sit there thinking you know what’s coming, and even if you’re right, they’ll get you. And that is one of the real joys of this story, even the expected is unexpected.
If you’re a newbie to this stage adaptation by Stephen Mallatratt’s of Susan Hill’s best-selling story, it all starts relatively quietly, with a few gentle laughs along the way. Arthur Kipps is a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black. He engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.
It all begins innocently enough, but then, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. Expect a story which is a faultless example of old school horror. There will be the weird noises, a few ghostly apparitions, and you will witness those things that go bump in the night.
Honestly, I don’t want to say too much more about the plot. Going into the show with little or no idea of what’s to follow is a real scary pleasure, although seeing it again is also a joy too.
The actors are superb with Mark and Malcolm taking on the role of multiple characters during the performance. The skill needed to make this production work, both physically and technically is of the highest level, and these two actors are at the top of their game where The Woman in Black is concerned.
The cheer from the audience at the end of the performance said it all. There was a lot of school parties in the theatre last night and from what we could see, most of the kids were on their feet cheering like they’d just seen their favourite artist perform at a concert.
I think what I really love about The Woman in Black is that is doesn’t need huge Hollywood special effects, or gory bits filling the stage. A great story, wonderfully told, with well punctuated sounds, will make your spine tingle and your heart race – and all of that is a superb night at the theatre for me.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK is very much a must see live event and is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 23rd September. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday – the Saturday matinee also has audio description. Tickets range from £18 to £37, with a variety of concessions available. For more details, go HERE.
What was, and still is so great about the show, is the work they do with school groups. Special reductions are available for school groups of 10 or more across the tour.
You can read our original show feature HERE.
