Anyone seen the stage show? What's it like - The Woman in Black (1989) Discussion

[–] terpsfan7649 19 years ago

I saw the play back in 1996 when my brother and I were in London. This play was very scary. The whole audience screamed. Not to give away too much, but to this day everytime I hear a rocking chair it gives me the chills.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] james-943 19 years ago

Went last night to the West End production. Make sure you keep your ears open for the young Actor's comment about Kipps' "Coup de theatre". I wont say any more, except the play is much more chilling if you notice.

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[–] Jaye_57 19 years ago

I went to see it last night at the Everyman - and I will never sleep again.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] shortToOtHTOMMY 19 years ago

james 943 three. the coup de theatre? I was at the showing on the tenth of september, could you tell me what remark was said as I must have completely missd it?

----
"You owe him five minutes. At least you can give him that."
Me Cris

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[–] velcronewsletter 19 years ago

i thought it was great! it was interesting how the woman in black wasn't mentioned on the cast list, just the 2 men. it was quite mysterious ;)

When will you stop chucking biscuits? I'm not the one going away with Norman to East Grinstead

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[–] richard-rai 19 years ago

I've seen it in the West End three times now (twice on my own and the last time with my partner). Thats how good it is.
If you go try and get tickets for the isle on the right hand side of the stage as you look towards it, you will NOT be disappointed. And you have been warned!

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[–] velcronewsletter 19 years ago

i waa at the top and i couldn't understand why everyone was screaming until i saw her coming on stage!

When will you stop chucking biscuits? I'm not the one going away with Norman to East Grinstead

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[–] micw778 19 years ago

Just got back from the showing at the edinburgh festival. I have to say, it was first class, i wondered how they were going to really scare the audience through this medium, but it really worked, highly recommended.

Thad

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[–] TomiusJ 19 years ago

Saw it last night. It was amazing!

To wit the answer to the question is it task or people? ...well, you know... people.

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[–] Fiasco55 19 years ago

I have seen the show three times now - twice in the Fortune Theatre in London and last week when it can to Edinburgh. I have so say that this is the most unusual and effective story telling I have witnessed. The first time I saw the play I had no idea how engrossed and invested you become in these two actors and the story. This is particularly highlighted by the laughing at the beginning of how they will show a pony and trap - to later as the tale unfolds the props take on the aforementioned role this time with no laughter.
This is a truly wonderful play, brilliantly executed by a handful of actors. This is what theatre is all about....

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[–] Jon_Bon 19 years ago

We watched the Tv production in my drama class back when i was at school a couple of years back and although no one else seemed to be scared by it, i have never been so freaked out in my life...so i propably will never dare see the play through fear of being scared for the rest of my life!!

(haha "fear of being scared" wtf!)

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Dark-Sam 19 years ago

I have seen the play twice as i was studying it for my GCSE drama, and I LOVED it! i was still scared by some of the parts, and i can say it is worth seeing, especially if like me u r in the position wen the woman in black actually walks straight past u n u can feel the draft of her cloak, so spine chilling! If you havnt seen it n u r interested it is worth seeing, i am trying to purchase the book to see what that is like.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] sweetie_pie_668 19 years ago

the play is bloody scary!!!!!!! it is so great at building up suspense. I almost cried at the end because I was so terrified, and so many people around me were shaking. People have been known to walk out of the play and/or get mentally scarred for life! If you're ever in England, give it a go. But make sure you go with other people and don't have to back to an empty house afterwards!

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[–] qdbaker 19 years ago

I saw the woman in black in bromley theatre. oh my god scariness!!! it was the type type of scaryness where u cant see anything and then BAM the light comes on! I screamed. It cant b compared 2 the film because it is even more frighteneing when u see the woman in black so close to u!
N.B I was surprised to see so many children there! Cruelty to children must stop! It had a great atmosphere

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[–] emmawatson79 19 years ago

I saw The Woman in Black, at it's home theatre, The Fortune, in the westend, london, and it was the most fantastic and scariest play I have ever seen...a definate must see. Also read the book, as it is just as good.

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[–] erinkellylassey 19 years ago

I saw it in Chicago in approx 98 -- I would have never thought that a play could be scary, but it was SO effective! I thought it was better and scarier than the movie, my husband watched the movie with me a few years ago and he didn't think the movie was that scary. I assured him that the play was so much scarier, probably because it was a relatively small theater, so being so close to live actors made it much more real. It was an impressive play, especially with so few props and no scenery.

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[–] combatreview 19 years ago

Funny thing, I always liked the way that the stage show is set IN a theatre... which means that as soon as Kipps and the actor walk on stage and start referring to the empty theatre, it turns you and the rest of the audience into invisible, observing ghosts too..!

I've seen the stage show in London two or three times. If you're in the stalls you do tend to get a bit of a prickling feeling when the woman slowly walks down one of the aisles for the first time, a black shape in the darkness...

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[–] glitzy_jemstone 19 years ago

I went to see it as part of my GCSE course two months ago. It was impossible to tear your eyes from the stage *well I had to, to bury my face in my friend's arm!*, because it's so amazing.

*stop reading here if you don't want to hear about props, set design, costume etc*
The way the props are used is amazing - the wicker basket is used as a train bench, a desk, a paper store, a horse and cart and a bed. What's more, the actors actually make you believe that it is what they say it is. The play is obviously brechtian because of the way changes of characters happen on stage - signalled by costume changes. The set design is simple, yet effective, with a gobo, onto which images are projected eg the house and stairs.

*start reading here if you skipped the last bit*
I would recommend this play to ANYONE willing to be thrilled - it was an amazing night, and I've also seen the film - but the play is MUCH scarier...

you'll enjoy it...all the techniques used are amazing, , although Act 1 is quite difficult to understand, because of all the swapping of characters, but it stops stopping and starting in Act 2

Jemz xXx

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[–] sophiecarpenter 19 years ago

Yes, I went to the show in the west end for my GCSE Drama last week, and I must have screamed like 4 times i was realli scared and the actors were so amazing!!!!, bone chilling! lol, I agree that Act One is more of a descriping chapter but once you get to aact 2 your glued to the stage..Did you see the bit were the woman in black is walking up the stairs and turns jst her head and it feels like shes looking straight at you !!! ahhhhhh

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[–] none-of-them-knew 19 years ago

The play is awesome, I was on a 6th form trip, and had seen the Blue Man Group the previous night, and all of us were adament that nothing would beat that, but damn were we wrong, it scared the beejezus out of most of us. The first act is so slow and just a little creepy which makes you so relaxed, i literally dozed off, only to be woken by screaming, not a great way to wake up.
To anyone that hasnt seen it, if you want to be sincerly scared, this is the play to see.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Freedom_Spark 15 years ago

It's touring the UK very soon everyone, sooo exciting! I have my tickets already

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail-R.W Emerson

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[–] Freedom_Spark 15 years ago

I saw it last night & it was fantastic, brilliantly written, fantastic actors & really suspenseful but I have to say, I personally didn't find it very scary, it had a bit of an after affect on me, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about a specific scene but in the moment, it wasn't hugely frightening. I'd definitely recommend everyone to see it though, it's a fantastic ghost story brought to life beautifully!

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail-R.W Emerson

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] little-miss-chocolate 14 years ago

It is absolutely fantastic, and truly terrifying. You won't be able to look at a rocking chair in the same way again for months.

It's hard to say without spoilers what happens, but the stage effects and lighting effects are superb. It's really well worth going to see.

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. – G. Apollinaire

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