I went to watch the theatre production of The Woman in Black a few weeks ago as a surprise birthday gift for a friend. The play was at the Fortune Theatre in Convent Gardens, a theatre which is actually small and which i think was the perfect venue for the play.
The Woman in Black is about Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who is sent to sort out the papers of the recently deceased Alice Drablow. Kipps is sent to Eel Marsh House where the woman in black resides and creates inexplicable circumstances. Years later, Kipps goes to an actor to recount and re-enact his experiences.
Ok so I didn't make the plot sound great but this is a play which you need to watch. The first act was calm, nothing too scary but there was always that feeling that someone is there, behind you and I don't mean the other people in the theatre. The second act is when the story all begins to come together and I have to say, it is terrifying. To be able to bring fear out of me just through using two actors, (3 if you include the woman) is an amazing task. There were screams throughout the theatre, so loud that the ushers had to shush us!
The lack of props exercised our imagination which was not a bad thing. In fact, it made the play that much better and scarier, letting the mind wonder can be a dangerous thing after all! But it's amazing to do so.
While I may not have explained in detail, I don't want to give the whole story away, I will say one thing. This production completely proved me wrong and for that I am grateful. I thought that a play would not be able to scare me. How wrong was I! I definitely recommend anyone who is fan of scary films and classic British plays to give this one a go. And even if you're not a fan of the fear, The Woman in Black has comedic elements too, perfect for everyone. Oh and just to add...it's nothing like the film. It's a lot scarier.
The Woman in Black is about Arthur Kipps, a solicitor who is sent to sort out the papers of the recently deceased Alice Drablow. Kipps is sent to Eel Marsh House where the woman in black resides and creates inexplicable circumstances. Years later, Kipps goes to an actor to recount and re-enact his experiences.
Ok so I didn't make the plot sound great but this is a play which you need to watch. The first act was calm, nothing too scary but there was always that feeling that someone is there, behind you and I don't mean the other people in the theatre. The second act is when the story all begins to come together and I have to say, it is terrifying. To be able to bring fear out of me just through using two actors, (3 if you include the woman) is an amazing task. There were screams throughout the theatre, so loud that the ushers had to shush us!
The lack of props exercised our imagination which was not a bad thing. In fact, it made the play that much better and scarier, letting the mind wonder can be a dangerous thing after all! But it's amazing to do so.
While I may not have explained in detail, I don't want to give the whole story away, I will say one thing. This production completely proved me wrong and for that I am grateful. I thought that a play would not be able to scare me. How wrong was I! I definitely recommend anyone who is fan of scary films and classic British plays to give this one a go. And even if you're not a fan of the fear, The Woman in Black has comedic elements too, perfect for everyone. Oh and just to add...it's nothing like the film. It's a lot scarier.