The Woman in Black

Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill

Directed by Justin Clow

“The Woman In Black” is adapted from Susan Hill’s best selling supernatural thriller. As a play, it binds the audience in its tightly knitted plot, which unravels an incredible sequence of events and, as a theatrical experience, it is a poignant one that is never to be forgotten. Stephen Mallatrat’s script combines the power and intensity of live theatre with a cinematic quality of film noir.

A counterpoint to the B-movie aesthetic of its first production, “Dead Ends”, Spectral Theatre chose to challenge its members with the taut thriller “The Woman in Black”. The intimate cast was pushed to expand its dramatic horizons, while the fledgling company still employed its ingenious technical ability to create an evening of unremitting drama as they were transported into a terrifying and ghostly world.

Presentation House, December 10, 11, 12 and 13 and 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2003.

Photos by Michael Methot

CAST

Arthur Kipps – Simon C. Hussey
The Actor – Des Hussey
The Woman – Erin Robb
Voice of Priest – J. P. Winslow

CREW

Director – Justin Clow
Stage Manager – Danielle Fecko
Set Design – Blake Drezet
Lighting Design – Michael Methot
Sound Design – Riley Rempel
Audio Engineer – J.P. Winslow
Costume Design – Sanchia Wong
Assistant Cosutme Design – Kim Fleming
Make-up – Kyle Smith
Violin Player – Marlow Turansky

REVIEWS

Niki Graham

North Shore News, Friday, December 12, 2003
“The Woman In Black: Play chills the spine and haunts the mind”

“Des Arthur Hussey moves in an out of his roles as Kipps and The Actor effortlessly, giving a believable performance as the exuberant, excitable actor, who in the process of the story encounters his own nightmare…Simon C. Hussey plays Kipps, portraying the broken man with subtle power. Simon plays many of the extras and manages to make the move from one to the next with little costume change. His accents and facial gestures help distinguish each character… The two balance Kipps before and after the horrendous experience, as The Actor plays the young, vibrant Kipps, while the real Kipps is restrained and sorrowful.”

“Blake Drezet’s set features mysterious doors, shadowy rocks, theatrical furnishings and a small graveyard…Michael Methot’s lighting works…to create an eerie hidden room. It also helps distinguish the eras and clarify the past from the present…Director Justin Clow sets a precise pace; particularly strong are the scenes where Kipps narrates, as the actor portrays him. They move in a sort of dance and as they each turn the speaker faces the audience. Clow manages to make the pared-down, low-budget production full and powerful and to maintain the mystery. It seems at any minute something horrible may happen…”

Last Updated on Monday, 22 December 2008 00:54