Review: The Woman in Black by Almass Badat

                                                                                                                                                                          


Steve Mallatratt- Playwright
Robin Herford- Director
Micheal Holt- Desginer
David Acton- Arthur Kipps
Ben Deery- The Actor (young Arthur Kipps)

Since its opening night at the Fortune theatre in 1989, Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation ofThe Woman in Black has firmly taken up residence in the heart of London’s West End. Over 5000 performances later, David Acton dons the role of Arthur Kipps in the latest run of performances based on Susan Hill’s 1983 ghost novel.

The story follows Arthur Kipps, who travels to the small, isolated town of Crythin Gifford to be present at the funeral of his senior solicitor’s client, Mrs Drablow. Whilst attending the funeral, Kipps sees a young woman dressed in black with a wasted face, standing amongst the graves.
Arthur goes to Mrs Drablow’s former residence, Eel Marsh House despite the obvious discomfort expressed by the town’s people. Situated in the middle of a marsh, the house is cut off at high tide. Stuck in the Drablow residence, Arthur begins his task of sorting through Mrs Drablow's papers. As he finds a box of personal letters, he discovers the ghastly secret of the Woman in Black – as his own terrible price. 

Mallatratt’s adaptation remains true to the novel’s plot, with the added element of a play within a play. Cleverly, this framing device excuses the need for elaborate set design and special effects. Simplicity is the key, as the actors urge the audience to engage in their imagination as Herford presents sound clips to create a sense of time, space and atmosphere. As Mallatratt himself said, “It takes so little to create a whole world!” As the production has very little real violence, it can be a little disappointing for the younger viewer, who may be expecting the play to rival the terrifically interactive London Dungeons.  

Being a novel before any other medium, The Woman in Black exercises the use of language as a stimulant and the core of the production. As the curtain goes up, the audience sit in suspense as Kipps’ opening lines encourage a few nervous chuckles. His unease mirrors ours. Ben Deery who plays the young Arthur Kipps enters, seemingly oblivious to the horror beneath Kipps’ anxiety, and as the light conversation develops, so does the sense of foreboding. 

The Woman of the title is a little disappointing as only once she glides through the theatre, and this is before she has been introduced to the audience.  On numerous occasions the auditorium fills with smoke, but the expected climax is non-existent.  However, both Acton and Deery’s techniques do not disappoint. Acton’s transformation into Kipps is delightful, whilst Deery’s thirst for the effective storytelling works perfectly with Herford’s intentions to produce a play with an impact.

If the play doesn’t satisfy your need to be scared witless, Hammer Film Productions bring The Woman in Black starring Daniel Radcliffe and written by Jane Goldman (Kick Ass, X-Men: First Class) to your nearest cinema in 2012.

For more information on the play and tickets, follow the link below:

http://www.thewomaninblack.com/