‘The Expression on her Face, Desperate, Yearning, Malevolence, It Filled Me With Indescribable Loathing and Fear’-Woman in Black (Tour), Churchill Theatre, Bromley. 03.04.2017
It had been a while since I went to the Churchill, so I was happy to have been invited to see the current tour of Woman in Black. Having seen the play twice already once on Tour at the Woking New Victoria Theatre and the other at its home the Fortune Theatre in London, however this wasn’t going to stop me from kindly accepting tonight’s invite!
The Woman in Black is a thriller play adapted by Stephen Mallatrat from Susan Hill’s novel, its the story of Arthur Kipps who is ‘haunted’ by past events, and wishes to tell it to his family to relieve him from the terror that it has given him throughout the years. He does this through an actor, who guides him on how best to tell the story, and doing so plays Arthur in the story, allowing Arthur to become the many characters it met along the way. We witness the rehearsals of this story of when Arthur Kipps was a young solicitor and was asked to go to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, the house’s sole inhabitant, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. It is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman dressed all in black at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold.
The setting is on a empty stage with a doorway, curtain (which later reveals the ‘locked’ door) a clothes rack where the change of costumes and props are placed, a door way and some chairs, and through the act of imagination they transform the stage into the setting of the marshes, and El Marsh House- where the Woman in Black haunts. This was very effective and worked well for I did not question what I viewing, such as the scene while he was in the train carriage, although they were using just 2 chairs and a wicker basket I was able to still visualise that yes they were both on a train. The framing for the stage then got a lot more depth to it, as you began to discover there was more behind the curtain, to which would be revelled through the telling of the story, and also the appearance of a stairwell from the back of the stage worked so effective.
There is only one thing that the touring production looses than that of the Fortune Theatre, is its intimacy. The Fortune theatre is quite a quaint, whereas the Churchill which is wider in length, and there is no Aisle, therefore when we first glimpse the ‘Woman in Black’ it is loses its effect as she walks along the side of the seats of the stalls, rather than through everyone. Had I not known to
look for her, it would have gone a miss until she reached the stage, where in the Fortune Theatre I was drawn in…who was this woman? That being said, I know it is difficult to pull of the same effect in so many different theatres, and its great to see it visiting the UK to tell the story, giving those a chance to enjoy that don’t have the opportunity to travel to London. I would still recommend to anyone who loves a bit of Thrill, and you are guaranteed to be jumping in your seats, holding onto your companies hand with suspense of what is going to happen next!
The two performers of the night were outstanding, they really do have to get the best to give the play exactly what it needs. Arthur Kipps played by David Acton, a really hard character to play as although it is his story he has the task of playing all the different characters that he had met during his story. David displayed each character brilliantly with swift and brilliant changes into each one through his actions and facial expressions. Yet you also see the ‘real’ Arthur, and his emotions that he feels when he is watching it relived once again.
The Actor tonight was played by Matthew Spencer, who then takes on the role of Arthur Kipps within the story which also he takes in his stride, showing off his talent in all the emotions throughout the story. For the Actor this is a story to him, and yet towards the end you feel as though he isn’t telling the story, but is he story, he is Arthur. A powerful role that would be hard for some but not for Matthew.
The Woman in Black is not for the fainthearted, and it was great to see younger people in the audience, and watch their reactions to the play, its brilliant to hear that this play is being used as GCSE Drama pieces for the students to study as its a very interesting play, from its performance, and set, to the lights and sound tech. But this play is one you won’t forget after your viewing, and would recommend it to anyone, however if you have seen the 2012 film version starring Daniel Radcliffe then don’t go to the show thinking that is what you are going to see…it is so much better!
The Woman in Black is playing at the Churchill until 8th April for ticket information go here. It will then embark on its tour around the UK for further information go here.
