The Woman in Black
Mark Hawkins as The Actor/Young Kipps. Photo by Mark Douet.
Review by Martine Silkstone
What is it about ripped grey muslin that immediately creates an eerie atmosphere? Perhaps it conjures visions of deserted mansions and translucent spirits that glide along dark corridors then disappear through walls...
Whatever the reason, it is the perfect backdrop to greet you as you take your seat for The Woman in Black, subtly setting the scene for the ghost story about to unfold on stage.
And what a ghost story!
There are very few truly scary plays out there, but this production - based on the book by Susan Hill - manages to be both gently humorous and darkly chilling.
As per tradition, the wonderfully vivid script is performed by just two very talented actors (plus ghost), with sound effects, dry ice and creative lighting doing much of the atmospheric heavy-lifting. Malcolm James is Arthur Kipps, the haunted man with a terrifying tale to tell. Deciding he can no longer keep it to himself, he produces a manuscript detailing his past as a young lawyer sent on business to Eel Marsh House and, with his writing complete, he hires The Actor (Mark Hawkins) to help him dramatise the events.
Malcolm James (multi-role) and Mark Hawkins as The Actor/Young Kipps. Photo by Mark Douet
We follow their journey as they work through their lines - with some humour initially - playing out each scene and slowly revealing the horror of what occurred at the home of reclusive widow, Mrs Drablow. It is a story of sadness, grief and revenge, ultimately concluding that to get in the way of a mother's love is to invite untold pain and fear for you and anyone that follows.
Ironically, when I first saw this play in 1996 I was heavily pregnant - not advisable in hindsight. More recently, I watched the 2012 film version with my teenage daughter and it was the first time I heard her swear - charming. Both weirdly memorable moments in my own journey as a mother.
But I digress...
For me, this version fell a little flat initially as it was sometimes hard to hear what the actors were saying. When you have beautiful dialogue cleverly ramping up the tension (the fog was "made of millions of live fingers that crept over me") then you need to be able to hear it clearly. Perhaps it was a conscious choice, making the audience lean in so the jump scares were even more startling? Either way, I wasn't entirely drawn in until the second half.
However, after the interval...
Crikey! Then it became truly scary, just as a ghost story should be. Heart pounding, hand over mouth, goosebump-raising scary - with ghostly fog, a dark figure, the creaky rocking chair and some blood curdling screams (though that might have been me).
Brilliantly staged with great effects and strong performances, The Woman in Black offers theatregoers something a bit different to the usual musical or comedy fayre, making it all the more interesting and exciting as a show.
Well worth a ticket - just be sure to take a friend as you will almost certainly need a hand to hold.
Note: Of course there was the obligatory phone going off at one point during the show, despite repeated reminders to TURN THEM OFF! Come on people!
The Woman in Black is at Ipswich Regent Theatre until 9 March 2024.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE