John Mackay as Arthur Kipps and Daniel Burke as The Actor [Mark Douet]

THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Alexandra Palace (and Richmond Theatre)
3.5 stars

AFTER a record-breaking West End run, Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel, The Woman in Black, returns with a whirlwind UK Tour.
Famously staged with two actors and a ghost, the play follows lawyer, Mr Kipps (John Mackay), traumatised by the haunting of a woman in black. He engages The Actor (Daniel Burke) to dramatise his story and exorcise the fear that paralyses him.

The action begins in a rehearsal room, where The Actor attempts to animate Kipps’ longwinded account. As they explore his memories, the line between reality and performance blurs.

Kipps is employed to manage the estate of the deceased Mrs Alice Drablow and travels to her isolated home to sort through her papers. At her funeral, he encounters the woman in black, who terrifies the locals. Once inside the house, he uncovers her tragic past and the terrible revenge she exacts.

Mallatratt’s adaptation highlights the cathartic power of theatre. By sharing his experience, Kipps finds relief, while The Actor demonstrates how sound (Rob Mead/Sebastian Frost) and lighting (Kevin Sleep) can evoke dread and terror without elaborate set or props. We’re asked to imagine a train journey, a pony and trap, a dog called Spider, shifting tides and a terrible accident.

There are pros and cons to Robin Herford’s production at Alexandra Palace. The cavernous stage dwarfs the intimacy of the rehearsal room, and the actors’ voices occasionally struggle to reach the back rows. Though the deliberately repetitive opening scenes didn’t immediately draw me in, our imaginative engagement is ultimately rewarded.

The gleeful screams of a large school audience underscored the effectiveness of the minimalist staging, and Michael Holt’s designs, which bring this ghost story vividly to life.

Until October 25
www.alexandrapalace.com
and at Richmond Theatre Nov 25-29
thewomaninblack.com