Anyone seen the stage show? What's it like
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sonofajoiner — 20 years ago(June 11, 2005 06:03 AM)
Ive seen this play twice, once at the Fortune and more recently on tour at Milton Keynes theatre. This play has to be seen at the Fortune in order to experience the proper atmosphere. The play really loses something in translation in a big venue particularly as so mich depends on the sudden appearance of the woman in black herself. The impact of key moments in the play are not realised and the more folk there are in the theatre the more likely that any potential 'scares' and surprises are given away before they happen. As little is used in the way of props etc being in a big theatre makes it difficult to see whats going on. Watching it from the middle of the upper circle surrounded by shrieking 6th form students who had seen the play before made the experience less than enjoyable!
That aside, the play itself is fantastic and differs wildly from both the book and the tv production. I agree with other posters that it is the intimacy of the play that helps to make the hackles rise in that you are made to feel a part of events on stage. Sound is also used to amazing affect and becomes quite chilling as the play progresses. Overall much of the atmosphere is achieved by the power of suggestion and the audiences expectation. One of the parts that caused the most shrieking (followed by the obligatory nervous laughter) was achieved using nothing but a quick, loud sound effect and lighting and had nothing to do with the supernatural at all. The play really draws you in.
Well I'll be dead and rained on! -
prfrbr48 — 13 years ago(June 08, 2012 11:33 AM)
I worked on a production in the mid west.
A small house seating 450.
I enjoyed watching play very much.
You were pulled into the story not know what to expect next.
The costumes and sets and special effects.
Were like watching an old black and white mystery.
You felt the chill of the moors.
Add to that the excelent cast.
Especialy the actress playing the woman in black.
Coming in and out silenty creeping you out. -
CraterFace89 — 20 years ago(June 29, 2005 11:04 AM)
Ha ha, only TWO I think you mean!
Lol that took me a while to understand..
combatreview - Oh and BTW cos it's the end of term, we're watching the film of the Woman In Black again. NOW I might see the ending and not keep on saying "What happened" again and again.
Rose-Are you there?Are you getting this?You've got the point,haven't you?Rose? -
combatreview — 20 years ago(June 30, 2005 04:33 AM)
That's a lot more interesting than anything I ever saw at the end of term! Oh, tell a lie - my history teacher once brought a video of Blackadder in, on the grounds that it was vaguely historical.
Hope you enjoy the ending it's nice! -
CraterFace89 — 20 years ago(July 01, 2005 02:45 AM)
Aww that was a disappointing ending. This will sound harsh, but I think (in the film) they should have ended it like the book with his wife and child in the pony and trap, being startled by the woman, crashing and killing them. I think he should have been left miserable for the rest of his life (said it would be harsh). Also, the fact that it was a pony and trap related more to the story. However, the pony and trap is in the play and the show and I'm glad it was there.
The ending was quite funny really - EVERYONE was screaming in the class and I was laughing. For a WHOLE tree to SUDDENLY fall, it was quite amusing. It was just really overdramatized.
I should really do my physics coursework now..
Rose-Are you there?Are you getting this?You've got the point,haven't you?Rose? -
bermuda0520 — 20 years ago(June 24, 2005 11:01 AM)
I saw the play when my brother and I were in London back in 1996. This play was so scary that certain sounds and objects (if you have seen the play you know what I am talking about) still give me the creeps. I have been to countless horror movies and plays, but this is the only one that 99% of the audinece actually screamed out loud.
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folly_fawn — 20 years ago(July 06, 2005 11:00 AM)
My sister and I took my Mum to see this play for her birthday a couple of years ago.
My sister had seen it on a school trip about 6 months before hand and she said it scared the cr*p out of her. My Mum had seen it years and years ago (probably a school trip) and she told me that it frit her half to death but also how brilliant it was.
Prior to actually watching the play, I wasn't phased at all. I couldn't understand what the big woof was all about and I eventually came to the conclusion that both my sister and my Mother were the biggest wusses in the world.
How wrong did I turn out to be?!?!?!
For the first half, I was pretty relaxed. Quietly enjoying myself, experiencing no panic attacks, I was almost mellow in fact. I was just taking in the acting the story and the atmosphere - no problem. Brilliant.
Then the second half began and I was transformed into some kind of ridiculous petrified muppet.
I don't know what it was about this play that got to me - but it was something.
I was leaping, shrieking and gasping throughout. Every so often I would jump a little way out of my chair and cling on to my poor little sis who must have thought I was behaving like a right wolly.
Still, absolutely brilliant. I'd "jump" at the chance to go and see it again! Truly fantastic.
The next time I'm back home, I'll be paying the Fortune Theatre a visit! -
anatomyrock — 20 years ago(July 01, 2005 11:00 AM)
didn't really scare me, but my drama teacher has seen it about 10 times and said this cast was not one of the best she has seen, and that it was one of the worse productions, so maybe that's why I wasn't scared. However the person next to me was screaming and crying so I dunno.it was gd tho/
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Skynet_555 — 20 years ago(July 08, 2005 10:49 AM)
i just watched saw the show a few days ago, and, being someone who is used to stuff like this, was totally 100% freaked out of my own body! The 2 main characters give off such a strong performance. The sound was used best. one thing that made me jump, was a really really loud scream from the back of the theatre without any warning. The effects were used well too, with doors unexpectably slamming shut, and a rocking chair moving by itself, those were just so disturbing and effective.
Think i'll try and find the movie tommorow
"i am frank & frank must go, i good you bidevening" -
Darkangel250 — 20 years ago(July 15, 2005 03:18 PM)
Hi, i went to see this play about a year ago and it still terrifies me from what i remember of it!
I think the plays brilliant and i didnt believe the posters outside at all that the play actually 'made the audience scream in terror' but to totally honesti screamed a fair few times and wouldn't go to the bathroom on my own that night!
I would definitely got to see it, im hoping to go back and see it again very soon with some of my family because i know they'd love it.
Theres such a tense atmosphere thats built up by the sounds all around you and the main actors are brilliant. -
robertrosado — 20 years ago(July 21, 2005 09:12 PM)
I saw the West End play last summer. To say that nothing has terrified me more is an understatement. It chilled me to my very core, and left me speechless.
The best part is that there's no special effects. Some elaborate light and sound cues can work wonders, as well as believable acting.If you enjoy cinema, please check out my website @ http://FilmPix.cjb.net!
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Hermione_is_me — 20 years ago(August 16, 2005 02:55 AM)
I thought the stage show was absolutely awsome. I was so scared when I came home, I made my mum let me sleep in her bed! I was like, "The Woman in Black is gonna get me!!! bursts into tears"
It doesnt help that I have a rocking chair in my house.
My friend went to see it a few weeks later and she ended up sleep walking, which she has never done before.creepy.
I am so making my mum go and see it again with me, as she took great pleasure in telling everyone how scared I was!
Hahahaha she has a big surprise waiting for her. -
lucifa42 — 20 years ago(August 21, 2005 07:27 AM)
I told my girlfriend some time ago that I'd never see a play before so yesterday, as a surprise for my birthday, she took me to the West End to see The Woman in Black in the Fortune Theatre. I've always been a fan of scary films so this was perfect.
The play was excellent, I never thought a play would be my kind of thing, I certainly would never think play=scary but I was wrong!
Where a play might lack in CGI and special effects, it makes up for it in masterful use of lighting and sound, and the very fact you are mere feet from the action. The Woman was very creepy, appearing quite suddenly in places, but only briefly so you never really got a good look at her, and of course the acting by The Actor and Mr Kipps was fantastic.
I would definitely recommend going to see this, if you enjoy the story and fancy a play. -
terpsfan7649 — 20 years ago(September 01, 2005 06:46 AM)
I saw the play back in 1996 when my brother and I were in London. This play was very scary. The whole audience screamed. Not to give away too much, but to this day everytime I hear a rocking chair it gives me the chills.
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james-943 — 20 years ago(September 09, 2005 03:37 AM)
Went last night to the West End production. Make sure you keep your ears open for the young Actor's comment about Kipps' "Coup de theatre". I wont say any more, except the play is much more chilling if you notice.
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shortToOtHTOMMY — 20 years ago(September 12, 2005 02:40 PM)
james 943 three. the coup de theatre? I was at the showing on the tenth of september, could you tell me what remark was said as I must have completely missd it?
"You owe him five minutes. At least you can give him that."
Me
Cris -
velcronewsletter — 20 years ago(October 20, 2005 01:05 PM)
i thought it was great! it was interesting how the woman in black wasn't mentioned on the cast list, just the 2 men. it was quite mysterious
When will you stop chucking biscuits? I'm not the one going away with Norman to East Grinstead