The power of suggestive horror - review of 'The Woman In Black' opening at Storyhouse
A 22-venue tour of 'The Woman in Black' recently opened at Chester's very own Storyhouse.
What felt somewhat slow to begin soon spiraled into a truly enthralling production of a classic ghost story.
Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation of Susan Hill's best-selling novel reimagines the tale of a man who is traumatised by an experience years prior, in a small and isolated English town.
John Mackay plays Arthur Kipps, a lawyer who engages a young actor, played by Daniel Burke, to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.
What begins innocently enough soon turns sinister, as the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur.
Directed by Robin Herford, the thrilling production expertly weaponises the power of suggestion.
The most frightening aspect of the show wasn't the sudden jump scares, piercing bursts of noise or figures abruptly appearing on stage, but what happened when the lights went out.
Long drawn out moments of silence created a wonderfully sinister tone, coupled with darkness or characters lit by shaky candlelight.
The use of lighting in this production, led by Kevin Sleep, amplified the horror further.
As chaos ensues, our protagonist is framed by distorted hues of light, emphasising his horrified gaze against the empty darkness of the grand manor he finds himself in.
John Mackay is a skilled Arthur Kipps, playing numerous characters with deft transitions and convincing performances. His switches are at times instantaneous, moving from a quivering man battling with a haunted past, to a self-assured looming presence veiled with a regional accent.
His co-star Daniel Burke is simply excellent, offering an equally vibrant and energetic stage presence that grabbed the audience's attention and ceased to let go until the very last moment.
Stage design was simple but exceedingly effective, serving various locations and changes relying merely on the skill of both men on stage.
'The Woman in Black' is a truly thrilling production, not merely through spectacle but rather the power of suggestive horror and appealing to the very human fear of the unknown.
The production is playing at Storyhouse until Saturday 27 September.
You can find tickets and more here.
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