Woman in Black

admin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:24:11 +0000

This show is certainly not for the faint hearted or those who don’t like to be scared; it’s been making audiences scream every night since it began its chilling run in the West End. This is all very impressive for a show which, by West End standards, is incredibly small. There is no set to speak of and very few props. Two actors, the only two in the entire cast, mime most of the necessary action, such as riding in a coach, for example. Thus, with no flashy gimmicks or million-pound sets to save it, the show must go back to basics relying on a strong story and excellent acting to get itself through- and this show doesn’t disappoint. For a horror story it’s always a good sign that, at several points during performances, audience members audibly scream and some are left quite shaken by what goes on.

Why should this be? We all know it’s just a story and quite a conventional haunted house old-fashioned type story at that. Well, it’s all in the telling and this is a story which is told very well. The scares are spread out just enough so that, as we begin to settle down and feel safe again, we are once more shocked out of our skins and frightened out of our wits. Never has a rocking chair seemed more sinister or more ominous (you’ll understand why once you’ve booked your tickets and gone to see the show)

As the show is very scary, it is not suitable for young children, but for anyone older who likes a good scare and fancies having one in a theatre rather than a cinema, this is a wonderful play which really deserves more accolades than it gets. So many West End shows now how huge sets and huge budgets and cover up any flaws they might have by dazzling the audience with special effects and loud song and dance numbers. This show can’t do that. This show lives and dies by the quality of its acting and, let us tells you, it will live for a long time in your memory, in your dreams and in your nightmares as well.

stphilipsaods.co.uk

Woman in Black