When a company brings back a show after just a year that’s a sign it was well received. If they bring it back for a third year in a row that means it has become a beloved tradition. Such is the case with The Woman in Black at the Parker Theatre. This is the third year they’ve put on this ghostly play and I loved it just as much this go-around as I did the first time I saw it. What a truly terrifying night at the theater!
The Woman in Black is a two-hander play with Ben Lowell returning as Arthur Kipps and Michael Hohl playing the Actor for the third year in a row. You can tell these actors have a complete mastery of these parts and especially in Act 2 Lowell taps into a mania with the character that adds to the tension we are all feeling. Hohl is more of a steadying influence but we need it to make the jump scares as effective as possible.
But truly the star of this play is the incredible sound and lighting. The sets are simple with items like a basket becoming multiple items as well as chairs and beds. It relies on the words of the actors and the sound to create the setting and sell the marshes and terrifying hallways of the manor. Parker is second to none with the way they use sound and this is a master-class in that artform (sound design Michael Hohl and Spencer Hohl.) The lighting is by James B Parker and he is very smart in knowing what to light and more importantly what not to light. I also appreciate they bring the surprises and spooks out into the audience (that’s all I will say because don’t want to spoil the surprise.) Suffice it to say I had a big smile on my face the entire evening.
My only complaint with The Woman in Black is I don’t love the play-within-a-play framework. It takes too much time to get to the spooks and meat of the story and I always feel like it could be eliminated and we would still be able to understand different actors are playing different roles throughout. Lots of shows do that such as The 39 Steps and we get it without an explanation setting things up. But then again this play ran for 20 years in London so who am I to argue with success.
Obviously you have to be up for a scary night of theater to enjoy this play. but I certainly am and did. It is only playing until November 7th, however, so make sure you get your ticket while you have the chance! You never know if we will see this suspenseful tale for a 4th year so don’t miss it. Tickets can be purchased here.
The Woman in Black is a play adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from Susan Hill’s novel of the same name. It opened in London in 1989 where it ran until 2023 with 13,232 performances. The only play that has lasted longer is another mystery The Mousetrap.
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