Theatre Review: Women in Black at MK Theatre
Rating: ★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 2nd April - 6th April
Where to see it: MK Theatre
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes (including interval)
Keywords: Haunting, mysterious, supernatural
If you haven’t seen the film or play ‘Women In Black’ our suggestion would be sit back and be patient with the first half of Act 1. I want to advice on how to take in the play, with it being the most simple yet effective staging and two incredibly talented actors with fast diverse characterisation.
The Plot
The legendary production of Susan Hill’s chilling ghost story The Woman in Black comes to Milton Keynes Theatre direct from London’s West End, after an incredible 33-year run at the Fortune Theatre. The production will star Malcolm James as Arthur Kipps and Mark Hawkins as The Actor.
Malcolm James returns to The Woman in Black having first played Arthur Kipps on a UK Tour and then at the Fortune Theatre. His other West End credits include The Mousetrap at St. Martin’s Theatre and Volpone at the National Theatre. His on-screen credits include HBO’s My Dinner with Herve, Secret Invasion on Disney+, the BBC’s Doctors and EastEnders, ITV’s Coronation Street and The Bill. On radio he has been heard on Letters to an Icon, The History Man and several afternoon dramas all on BBC Radio 4.
Mark Hawkins first played The Actor in The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre and The Madinat Theatre. His other theatrical credits include The Railway Children at Kings Cross Theatre, Julius Caesar at The Globe, the uk tour of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and the international tour of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. His television credits include HBO’s The Nevers and ITV’s Vera.
The tour cast is completed by Jon de Ville (The Sound of Music UK Tour, Netflix’s Scoop, BBC’s Strike) as understudy Arthur Kipps and Dominic Price (The Woman in Black) as understudy The Actor.
Over 33 years The Woman in Black played over 13,000 performances in the West End and has been seen by over 7 million people in the UK. In June 2019 the production celebrated its 30th Anniversary in London’s West End with a special gala performance.
Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.
Following a Christmas production in 1987 at a pub in Scarborough, The Woman in Black was brought to Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 1989. Reviews were sufficiently encouraging (apart from The Independent, who regretted the production’s inability to incorporate a live dog) to warrant a West End run. Its West End tour started at the Strand (now Novello) Theatre in March and moved to the Playhouse in April, finally lodging at the Fortune on June 7, 1989.
Throughout the production’s run in the West End and during its many tours the producer has been determined to keep ticket prices within the range of students and young people. This policy will continue in whatever form the play and production take in the future.
The Woman in Black is directed by Robin Herford, with designs by Michael Holt and lighting by Kevin Sleep.
The Review
We went in completely open minded. To give an incline to us as reviewers, one of us having watched Women In Black, the film and the other hadn’t and being neurodivergent. We love whodunnit’s and musicals so this type of theatrical performance, we weren’t used to. The first half of Act 1 was tough one to sit through but when we realised the silliness was all part of playing our imagination to understand the storyline, it finally made sense and the rest of the Act we were amazed by the stage performance.
The stage was so simple however the use of their words, the lighting and sound helped our imagination run and got us in the story. Something that to be honest, as a neurodivergent, was a real struggle to focus on with so much going on, but after time got into it.
This play is an incredible one to watch for those not afraid to open up their imagination, and really submerge themselves into the story whether you know it already or not. The lighting and sound effects truly did make the performances captivating - the star of the show, the women in black did give us a few jumps but also brought on our imagination.
This has been seen in Cardiff last year by one of our volunteers and an adaption of someone who loves these gripping performances: https://citygirlnetwork.com/magazine/theatre-review-the-woman-in-black-new-cardiff-theatre
The show is running until the 6th April so grab your ticket soon!
Standout Quote or Moment: The Woman in Black's first appearance, because we forgot she would appear..
Similar Plays: Murder Mystery style performances
Last Impression: "The Woman in Black" is a imaginative theatrical experience with a fantastic acting, lighting and sound.
Written by Charlotte Moyle
Disclaimer: We were given tickets in exchange for an honest review.