Newcastle Theatre Royal – until 29 April 2017. Reviewed by Daniel Harrison
Thirty years on from its original 1987 premiere at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s chilling gothic novella remains one of the great theatre experiences around, enthralling continuously with its signature blend of intense atmosphere, innovative stagecraft and impeccably composed moments of horror.
The Woman In Black takes Susan Hill’s novel and transforms it to backstage at a theatre a barely audible Arthur Kipps (David Acton) trying – and failing – to lay the ghost to rest by putting his horrifying decades-old story into words for a play. Kipps says he has been haunted by a ghostly woman dressed in black ever since an ill-fated business trip years ago to the desolate North East of England. Kipps, a Junior solicitor summoned to the small market town of Crythin Gifford to handle the estate of the late Mrs Alice Drablow, the sole inhabitant of the desolate and foreboding Eel Marsh House, all the while haunted by an ominous woman in black, who stalks the town and its residents with a sinister purpose in mind. He enlists a young actor to help him make a presentation, hoping that in the telling his demons will be dispelled and a horrible weight lifted from his soul. The actor (Matthew Spencer), who portrays a young Kipps living the nightmare as a fresh-faced, loved-up and and optimistic London solicitor, skips down the aisle injecting energy into the production. Done with such gusto, the audience are made to jump, a taste of what is to come.
The demanding two-hander is expertly rendered courtesy of Spencer and Acton, who give exceptional performances as The Actor and Kipps. Acton using his impressive dexterity to portray the diverse cast of characters conjured in the tale and his diversity to switch character to character as well as his ability to still have amazing comic timing was shown impressively. While Spencer immerses himself brilliant in the role of young Kipps. He had the whole audience sitting on the end of each syllable while he would lead everyone through the story with great suspense
By Act Two, both actors are in their element, taking turns at narrating and bringing to life Eel Marsh House and the ghostly going on that occur there. Through simple staging, some clever lighting and some faintly gauzed scenes, the ghostly spectre of Alice Drablow is summoned and makes her appearance bringing forth screams and shrieks from the audience who have already succumbed to the wondrous story-telling. A door, superb sound & lighting effects, a nursery, a bed, some stairs and the atmospheric marshes that surround the haunted mansion then take centre stage as Spencer bravely stays the night, much to the discomfort of the audience.
It is obvious that I cannot give much more away but what it is clear in this production is that it teaches us that the use of imagination in the theatre is key. As an audience we are transported into this story through the very fundamentals of theatrical storytelling – recorded sound, lighting, a gauze, smoke and expertly timed moments combine to make the audience gasp, jump and scream in terror (and delight) throughout the evening. The tension through the silence at times this evening was deafening as this busy theatre collectively sat on the edge of their seats. Proving tonight was all you need is great actors, some simple stage effects and a compelling story to have your audience gripped; and that we were.
Although famous as a ghost story, The Woman In Black as much of an exploration of grief. We may not relate to ghouls and mysterious bumps in the night but we all understand loss, dread. “There is nothing here to frighten or harm me, only emptiness,” says young Kipps upon entering the dreaded Eel Marsh House. By the end of the play it’s clear that there’s plenty to fear in emptiness.
Having run now for nearly thirty years, and with a successful film version starring Daniel Radcliffe released in recent times, there is an entirely new audience experiencing The Woman In Black on stage. On the night we attended the audience ranged from thirteen to eighty years of age, each responding with glee as the tale unfolded and the scares started.
The show was a true reflection on why theatre still remains genius. The ability to affect a whole audience with just the change of a light and sound effect had the entire room on the end of their seat. It’s great to see a new audience finding this play. It’s well-worth a visit but don’t go alone!
