Review by Stevee Davies.

When this production was premiered in the West End in 1989 at the Fortune Theatre, following the 1987 production at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, critics said they had never seen anything quite like ‘The Woman in Black’ in all their years.

Now 21 years on and still going strong (so strong in fact that they are taking bookings until December 2011), Stephen Mallatratt’s stage adaptation of Susan Hill’s 1983 novel has proved to be something of a phenomenon.

The Woman in Black has stood the test of time and is still popular today with audiences of all backgrounds. So much so that for many years now, the play is studied in schools all across the U.K and the Fortune is regularly filled with masses of Drama and English students from all over the country.

But why this play? What’s so special about it?

Well, this production offers something that many plays around London will not; a simple set, a small cast, an eerie atmosphere, and one of the most compelling and thrilling stories ever to be told on a West End stage.

The stage adaptation is revolved around the classic concept, ‘a play within a play’.

Arthur Kipps visits a young enthusiastic Actor at a theatre, in the hope that he can somehow have his story told. The Actor encourages Arthur (an older man now), to let go of himself and revisit his memories in order to make his story more interesting. The Actor takes the part of a young Arthur Kipps, and we see the characters and story unfold…

Eel Marsh House is situated near the marshes beyond the Nine Lives Causeway. Kipps as a junior solicitor has to attend the funeral of a client, Mrs Alice Drablow, who lived alone, completely unaware of events that had taken place there. Kipps begins to wonder when he spots a young woman with a wasted face at the funeral, dressed all in black. From there on the mystery unfolds, and Kipps learns why the locals are so reluctant to talk about the events, or the purpose of the Woman in Black.

Robin Herford has directed every cast since 1989 and once again has two fine performers in Michael Mears as Mr Kipps and Orlando Wells as The Actor.

Both stay true to the play and nail all the right moments, the comedy, the tragedy, and most importantly…the thrills.

This isn’t one for the faint hearted, if you really do scare easily, and suffers afterwards, then this isn’t for you, but if you think you’re the only one that’s scared…your wrong.

I defy anyone to say they were not uneased at some point during the show, it’s designed to leave you talking about it hours after you’ve left the theatre.

This is a must see, it’ll be around for some years yet, but make sure you do catch it if you haven’t seen it…oh, and its also being turned into a feature film for 2011 starring Daniel Radcliffe. About time too!