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Post by bd06bnd on Apr 3, 2019 8:30:57 GMT
I'm almost certain that there isn't an existing thread about this...sorry if there is (new here and all that). There doesn't seem to be much hype or buzz about this absolute masterpiece so hopefully some likeminded fans will provide their thoughts/ opinions! Despite having seen it twice in London and twice on tour, the show still manages to terrify me and give me chills the entire length of the play. It is so cleverly done and my personal opinion is that it's very underrated.
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Post by winonaforever on Apr 3, 2019 9:03:04 GMT
I've only seen it once, ages ago, but I cried in terror (which is an excellent sign, because only REALLY frightening things make me cry and it takes a lot to scare me)
Also love the book, and a great old TV adaptation I saw on YouTube. But NOT that awful film version with Daniel Radcliffe, which wasn't remotely scary.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 9:26:25 GMT
I love The Woman in Black, I think it's an absolutely terrific piece of theatre. It bothers me NO end when people say "oh, The Woman in Black is rubbish, I wasn't scared at all". I mean, fear is incredibly subjective, and what I find terrifying (haunted houses!) isn't going to be what other people find terrifying (demonic possession, global disaster, serial killers, whatever). People get VERY stuck in the idea that the horror genre *has* to be scary to be any good, and that's a very simplistic and unfair way to write off genuinely good work. Stephen Mallatratt took a run-of-the-mill spooky story with dozens of characters and found a way to thoroughly theatricalise it with a teeny-tiny budget-friendly cast. As Kipps learns how theatre works, so too the audience gets a little insight along with a solid example of getting thoroughly sucked in, and ultimately having the fourth-wall boundaries shaken in a way you just don't get with any other medium. It would be SUPER great if The Powers That Be could consider a little more diversity in casting though. The Actor is an Actor and half the point of the show is that theatre is non-literal, so even if Kipps always has to be a middle-aged white man (which I don't think he does), there's really no reason in this the twenty-first century to continue casting the Actor as a younger white man. (I think it's okay for a thirty year old production not to have any "hype" or "buzz" though, it seems to be doing just fine as is.  ) |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 14:37:28 GMT
I've seen it twice. I absolutely adore it.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Apr 3, 2019 15:48:34 GMT
I really want to see it.
I am also an enormous wimp. I'd probably cry.
Same with Ghost Stories, when it comes back I would love to see it but my nerves will not take it haha.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 16:09:38 GMT
I always love how they hide the Woman's biography in the programme. That must be frustrating for her. Even if she's 5 minutes on stage, not saying a single word (and the screaming is pre-recorded so she doesn't get to produce sound at all). And no recognition at all. I obviously get why they do that though.
I wonder if she's allowed to tell people she's the Woman. |
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Apr 3, 2019 17:57:51 GMT
I love this play for what it is, don't expect groundbreaking theatre though.
Coincidentally I've heard stories this theatre is in fact haunted by a woman in black...so ironic!
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Post by craig on Apr 3, 2019 18:41:35 GMT
I saw it once many years ago and thought it was really boring. I am yet to encounter anyone else who didn't love it though.
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Post by danieljohnson14 on Apr 3, 2019 19:10:42 GMT
I've seen it once, fairly recently and I thought it was brilliant! I want to go back! I was also lucky enough to see it without an interval, and that made the experience alot better than with an interval!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2019 19:56:09 GMT
I read the book by Susan Hill on which the play is based,on a beach holiday in Cyprus and even in such surroundings, it was a real spine-tingler.In my opinion, the show works best because of the rather atmospheric nature of the Fortune.Have seen it on tour in large theatres and it didn’t work for me.Once ran a coach trip to this and as we waited outside the theatre for the coach,the actors came out of the stage-door and we gave them a huge round of applause.They seemed genuinely moved.Hated the rather contrived movie and the ridiculous sequel.
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Post by Stephen on Apr 3, 2019 23:10:30 GMT
I saw the tour a few years ago but haven't seen it in town. A few of my friends have been called back for it again and again. I should really book to see it in town.
Being someone terrified of loud noises that alone scares me with this one. Being a lover of spooky tales is enough for me to love it though. On par with the book and much better than the movie, I think.
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Post by nash16 on Apr 3, 2019 23:15:10 GMT
I saw it once many years ago and thought it was really boring. I am yet to encounter anyone else who didn't love it though. Hello Craig. Here I am. Sat in the best seats in the house on an aisle in the stalls. Completely unmoved or scared. The tourist groups upstairs shrieked their hearts out though. But for me, it just didn't work. Interesting to find out, other than TWIB, which shows actually scared people (shows that we're meant to have spooky elements, not shows inadvertently scaring folk, like Too Close To The Sun, etc) I distinctly remember a face at a window in the otherwise unscary THE PRIORY at the Royal Court a few years ago made me go aghh! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2019 7:09:01 GMT
I saw it once many years ago and thought it was really boring. I am yet to encounter anyone else who didn't love it though. Hello Craig. Here I am. Sat in the best seats in the house on an aisle in the stalls. Completely unmoved or scared. The tourist groups upstairs shrieked their hearts out though. But for me, it just didn't work. Interesting to find out, other than TWIB, which shows actually scared people (shows that we're meant to have spooky elements, not shows inadvertently scaring folk, like Too Close To The Sun, etc) I distinctly remember a face at a window in the otherwise unscary THE PRIORY at the Royal Court a few years ago made me go aghh! The Turn of the Screw at the Almeida was petrifying. I watched most of it with my glasses off and I still screamed. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2019 8:28:00 GMT
Yeah, The Turn Of The Screw at the Almeida was not a brilliant piece of theatre, but as a piece of spooky story-telling, it tapped into some VERY specific fears that I have and played them for all they were worth.
I'm probably the only person who remembers Lucy Kirkwood's short play Psychogeography at this point but oh boy that gave me the willies. And while Ghost Stories (currently at the Lyric Hammersmith, for everyone who doesn't follow the Lyric Hammersmith on Twitter and is therefore spared the constant marketing bombardment) isn't exactly subtle, it also has some great chill moments. I remember when it was new and all my theatre buddies hated it but all my horror movie buddies loved it, so I think it absolutely understands what it's doing and is very happy about it.
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Post by Mark on Apr 4, 2019 8:41:28 GMT
I was terrified at Deathtrap the first time I saw it. Just for the shock factor!
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Post by Boob on Apr 4, 2019 21:38:52 GMT
I’ll rather embarrassingly admit I’ve seen this play six times at the Fortune. It’s a brilliant piece of theatre, but it’s not always been scary - it can vary depending on the cast, audience and general atmosphere. Although technically, its building of suspense is masterful.
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Post by anita on Apr 5, 2019 9:37:00 GMT
Saw this years ago when it was touring. I know I've told this before but my husband fell asleep and woke with a start at the cart & horses & screaming.- He caused all around us to laugh. I've never taken him to the theatre since! I should imagine the actors were cursing him. The book is absolutely terrific. Very atmospheric. I leant it to a lady I worked with who was into horror stories & she couldn't put it down.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2019 9:48:07 GMT
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 6, 2019 21:30:32 GMT
I've seen this a couple of times and can join the "not impressed" gang. It's probably a tricky theatre to fill with viable productions, so I suspect the owners hope it'll stick about for a long time yet.
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Post by horton on Apr 7, 2019 6:52:21 GMT
I've seen this a couple of times and can join the "not impressed" gang. It's probably a tricky theatre to fill with viable productions, so I suspect the owners hope it'll stick about for a long time yet. At this rate it'll outlast The Mousetrap. 2 actors, 2 crew and 1 "extra" (on a rota)- the weekly staff costs are covered by one full dress circle on a Saturday night. This is Peter Wilson's pension and it's going nowhere. (PS I really like it) |
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Post by bd06bnd on Apr 7, 2019 18:33:29 GMT
I love The Woman in Black, I think it's an absolutely terrific piece of theatre. It bothers me NO end when people say "oh, The Woman in Black is rubbish, I wasn't scared at all". I mean, fear is incredibly subjective, and what I find terrifying (haunted houses!) isn't going to be what other people find terrifying (demonic possession, global disaster, serial killers, whatever). People get VERY stuck in the idea that the horror genre *has* to be scary to be any good, and that's a very simplistic and unfair way to write off genuinely good work. Stephen Mallatratt took a run-of-the-mill spooky story with dozens of characters and found a way to thoroughly theatricalise it with a teeny-tiny budget-friendly cast. As Kipps learns how theatre works, so too the audience gets a little insight along with a solid example of getting thoroughly sucked in, and ultimately having the fourth-wall boundaries shaken in a way you just don't get with any other medium. It would be SUPER great if The Powers That Be could consider a little more diversity in casting though. The Actor is an Actor and half the point of the show is that theatre is non-literal, so even if Kipps always has to be a middle-aged white man (which I don't think he does), there's really no reason in this the twenty-first century to continue casting the Actor as a younger white man. (I think it's okay for a thirty year old production not to have any "hype" or "buzz" though, it seems to be doing just fine as is. ) Yes, sorry, probably the wrong use of vocab! Hmm.. interesting, I had never really considered that but now you mention it, it would definitely be interesting to see! |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 10:26:25 GMT
To mark its 30th anniversary, all (non-premium) stalls and dress circle tickets are £30 for all performances in June and July.
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Post by Snciole on May 25, 2019 17:29:38 GMT
So put me in the disappointed camp. Really great performances but it is a very predictable story so if you aren't scared there is no twist to keep you there.
Saw quite a lot of walk outs too, which makes me wonder what they were expecting.
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Post by joem on May 25, 2019 21:53:34 GMT
So put me in the disappointed camp. Really great performances but it is a very predictable story so if you aren't scared there is no twist to keep you there. Saw quite a lot of walk outs too, which makes me wonder what they were expecting. So there are people waiting thirty years to see a play and then walking out...… I think it's time to get me to a nunnery. |
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Post by Snciole on May 26, 2019 14:57:49 GMT
I don't get it. Even if they were extremely cheap/comp tix one couple couldn't even wait for the interval to leave. I got the impression when I saw them picking up their tickets that they didn't come to the theatre much,which makes their behaviour even odder.
We were in the dress circle so I wonder if it was a view thing or they were expecting a bigger production.
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