The Woman In Black, Theatre Review. Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

Originally published by L.S. Media. June 3rd 2010.

Cast: Robert Demeger, Peter Bramhill.

The Playhouse has put on some very fine pieces of theatre so far this year and with some truly remarkable performances including Bob Golding’s superb interpretation of national treasure Eric Morecambe and the team behind the season’s opener “Ghost Stories”. To finish the season in a similar fashion they have commissioned the wonderful and spine tingling The Woman in Black.

Written by Susan Hill and adapted by Stephen Mallatratt, the play centres on a particular time in the life of solicitor Mr. Kipps played with great effect by Robert Demeger and who, in retelling his tale to the actor (Peter Bramhill) relives the horror he witnessed as a younger man when asked to go to a small market town on the north east of England and see to the affairs of the now deceased Jennet Humfrye.

Atmospheric from the start, we see the older man retell the beginning of the story before the actor booms from the back instructions on how to deliver his lines with more passion and zest in his voice. This is the first of many small shocks that the audience will feel during the night.

Some plays ask too much of the audience in the way that they ask them to suspend disbelief for too long or to be able to keep a grasp of the comings and goings of the actors but this simple tale had just the right ingredients to keep everybody on their toes and have them looking out the corner of their eye for anything that might just float past.

The entire production team behind this compelling tale deserve applause for bringing this story to life but none more so that the director Robin Herford who even though having only three people to direct had to do so to the highest order as to keep the mix of suspense and slight comedy moments intertwined before giving the audience a last half of pure creepy drama.

An excellent play to finish the season at the Playhouse and a perfect set up for the next with highlights such as Kim Cattrall in Antony and Cleopatra throughout October and the start of November.

Ian D. Hall