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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

The Woman in Black

11:32 / 09.02.05

Okay, has anyone around here seen this? I stumbled across the BBC adaption years ago and it scared the shit out of me, forcing me to seek out Susan Hill's equally frightening novel.

So what's it about? Well, like all good ghost stories it starts with a hapless young lawyer being sent into the wilds - in this case a remote village surrounded by treacherous marshland. Unsurprisingly the lawyer is charged with administering the messy estate of a recently departed heiress. Her cavernous house - made inaccessable for most of the day and all of the night by tidal waters - becomes his home for the next few weeks.
Needless to say, he has unwelcome company.

From here on in we're in familiar, if nasty, territory. Basically it's a British take on the vengeful ghost story, a sub-genre made popular today by films like Ringu and Ju-On; A character dies in tragic circumstances and comes back to wreak revenge on those she deems responsible - and anyone else that might get in the way.

The play, whilst a populist effort, (much of the first twenty minutes is spent acclimatising the audience to the theatrical experience) is very effective. I leapt out of my seat twice and bit my nails to the bone, and that's with the company of three hundred people, many of whom were screaming teenagers.

That's not to say it's a total success, it is a little camp and so doesn't quite replicate the dreadfulness of the novel. But on the whole it left me wondering why horror isn't more popular at the theatre.

So, can anyone recommend any other scary plays?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

11:39 / 09.02.05

I saw this many years ago when I was much younger (obviously!) and it freaked the living wee out of me. The whole thing was done by just two actors (well, three) playing all the parts, as the one guy tells the other what happened to him. Very good.

There was another play I saw at about the same time by the same company that were doing WIB called (I think) "A Night In The Country". It was about all manner of inexplicable freakouts (murders, suicides, people going missing) in the depths of the countryside, on isolated farms and what-have-you (ever so incredibly loosely based on real events), was freaky as fuck and managed to bring in a whole psychogeographical aspect in the second act. Absolutely fucking fantastic. I don't know if it's still performed, but if so, it's well worth a go.

11:56 / 09.02.05

I love the way the actors are forced to make do with a limited number of props a few sound effects and minimal (but wonderfully evocative) stage design. It forced my imagination to do some work, and encouraged a feeling of intimacy.

There were points where it was just me, them, and her.

Stoatie, are you sure about that title? I've googled it but no luck so far.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:14 / 09.02.05

Pretty sure on the title- I think the theatre company may have been called the Orchard Theatre... but? It was based (in part and again very loosely) on John Cornwell's book "Earth To Earth". Would have been about 15 years ago.

23:58 / 09.02.05

Never seen WIB, despite the fact it's been running for years, but everyone I know who has was scared...

I'm not sure if it'll be at all scary, but Improbable Theatre are adapting the film Theatre of Blood to be staged in the Lyttelton at the National in, er, May (I think). Hopefully I'll be working on it and it ought to be fun. A good cast too, including Jim Broadbent (actually, that's the only one I can remember).

But, no, there aren't too many scary plays around, are there? However...

SPOILER (If you ever see a revival, or read the script...)

I worked on Shining City at the Royal Court last year, and without going into the whole plot and story (which was very naturalistic and monologue driven), basically there was a fantastic twist in which a ghost appears unexpectedly right at the very end - about 10 seconds before the blackout. It forced you to to reassess everything you'd just seen and the shock/chill/jump-out-your-seat factor was great. Much fun hearing the audience reactions each night, which ranged from collective intakes of breath and screams to the odd "Jesus!" and "Oh shit!". Anyone see it...?

09:29 / 10.02.05

I've not seen Shining City, but it sounds intersting.

As for an adaptation of Theatre of Blood, count me in. I absolutely love the Hammer film.
For anyone who doesn't know, it's basically a blueprint for Se7en, but with Vincent Price's scorned actor in the role of the killer. Truly a perverse, grimy, almost Lynchian bit of film-making.

Meem, you really should see WIB, I'm sure you'd love it.

09:31 / 10.02.05

Where will ToB be performed?

14:17 / 10.02.05

Well, I found out today that I'll definitely be working on Theatre of Blood, so more on that as and when... As I said above, it's at the National Theatre. Previews from May 9th...

I dunno if I'll ever see WIB. I don't tend to go to shows that often, seeing as I work on them and my free evenings are precious. Actually, what I try to avoid more is paying to go to the theatre. I probably should have gone when an actor I knew was in it a couple of years ago. Oh well. But if it continues to run and run, you never know, maybe one day...

14:32 / 10.02.05

Let us know what you think of the ToB production - but no spoilers without a warning, please

.

I want it to be good. Lots.

As for not going to to see WIB because you work in the industry. I totally understand. I've been surrounded by television and film professionals all my life, and most of them have a very strange (or should that be strained) relationship with their chosen media.

My mother worked with numerous bands in the Eighties. Now she never listens to music. She'll admit there's a link.