But it's so slimming . . .
I went to see The Woman in Black at New Stage Theatre last night. The show is a spooky ghost story, in honor of the Halloween season, and the script is by Stephen Mallatratt, based on the novel by Susan Hill. Pat Benton directed this show, which was brave. Basically, there is no set, and there are few elaborate costumes (although there was one coat with a little cape at the top - Oh, how I wish I could wear a cape in real life without being branded a drama queen!). The strength of the show rests in the script and the actors.
The standout in the cast was Charles Fraser. Fraser plays Mr. Kipps, a man who has experienced a haunting and wants to tell his story, thereby putting it to rest. Throughout the play, Fraser deftly switches between characters, playing by turns a friendly townsperson, a bartender, a taciturn horseman, and a head solicitor. Some of his vocal and gestural work in these different personalities was quite entertaining to watch. William Hickman plays a professional actor, a man that Kipps hires to help him relate the story to family and friends. In the early scenes Hickman's character comes across as totally full of himself. I liked him better as the show went on, and he began to develop an appreciation for Kipps. Still, some of his most emotional moments on stage did seem a bit strained, particularly a breakdown at a locked door (I couldn't figure out why on earth he wanted to get in there so badly) and a moment when he is overcome by the ghost of the Woman in Black (the technical values are already working overtime in this scene is his favor. Maybe he should have kept his own contribution more minimal in this moment, letting the lights and sound do their job? Not sure on this one how I would have played it.) Emily Wright, who unfortunately has no live lines (no pun intended), plays the ghostly Woman in Black.
This play is a true ghost story, in the tradition of works like Turn of the Screw. Much of the horror in the script is born of the storyteller's own mind, as he is converted from one who staunchly does not believe in ghosts to one who has been too terrified to do anything but believe. I honestly am not a fan of horror flicks and slasher films; I get nightmares and find difficulty wiping the scenes of carnage from my mind. However, this play makes a wonderful alternative. It is not horrifying, but it is spooky and eerie in a non-threatening way. (It fits my Halloween bill perfectly, and it won't keep me up at night!)
The technical values that I noticed most were lighting (designed by Jim Pettis) and sound. (Unfortunately, the technician who managed the sound for this production was not noted in the program. It's a pity, because sound was one of the most important technical aspects of the show.) These two elements create a variety of environments for the characters - a London office, a train, a small-town pub, a creepy old house, and a windswept marsh. Because the set is so minimal, sound and lights do alot of heavy lifting to set the stage, and I thought the technicians in charge of these elements did a great job. Michael Guidry, who I've followed with interest during his education at Millsaps, served as the stage manager. Sam Sparks, another Millsaps alum, is set designer and production manager for this show. (By the by, Sam directed another show, Metamorphoses, which is running this weekend at Millsaps. I am going to try to get by there tonight to see it.)
The show does not run long, and it is definitely worth seeing. I enjoyed it, and I recommend it as a great way to get into the Halloween mood! The Woman in Black will be performed from now until October 30th, and tickets are$22 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. To order tickets, call the box office at 601-948-3531.
The standout in the cast was Charles Fraser. Fraser plays Mr. Kipps, a man who has experienced a haunting and wants to tell his story, thereby putting it to rest. Throughout the play, Fraser deftly switches between characters, playing by turns a friendly townsperson, a bartender, a taciturn horseman, and a head solicitor. Some of his vocal and gestural work in these different personalities was quite entertaining to watch. William Hickman plays a professional actor, a man that Kipps hires to help him relate the story to family and friends. In the early scenes Hickman's character comes across as totally full of himself. I liked him better as the show went on, and he began to develop an appreciation for Kipps. Still, some of his most emotional moments on stage did seem a bit strained, particularly a breakdown at a locked door (I couldn't figure out why on earth he wanted to get in there so badly) and a moment when he is overcome by the ghost of the Woman in Black (the technical values are already working overtime in this scene is his favor. Maybe he should have kept his own contribution more minimal in this moment, letting the lights and sound do their job? Not sure on this one how I would have played it.) Emily Wright, who unfortunately has no live lines (no pun intended), plays the ghostly Woman in Black.
This play is a true ghost story, in the tradition of works like Turn of the Screw. Much of the horror in the script is born of the storyteller's own mind, as he is converted from one who staunchly does not believe in ghosts to one who has been too terrified to do anything but believe. I honestly am not a fan of horror flicks and slasher films; I get nightmares and find difficulty wiping the scenes of carnage from my mind. However, this play makes a wonderful alternative. It is not horrifying, but it is spooky and eerie in a non-threatening way. (It fits my Halloween bill perfectly, and it won't keep me up at night!)
The technical values that I noticed most were lighting (designed by Jim Pettis) and sound. (Unfortunately, the technician who managed the sound for this production was not noted in the program. It's a pity, because sound was one of the most important technical aspects of the show.) These two elements create a variety of environments for the characters - a London office, a train, a small-town pub, a creepy old house, and a windswept marsh. Because the set is so minimal, sound and lights do alot of heavy lifting to set the stage, and I thought the technicians in charge of these elements did a great job. Michael Guidry, who I've followed with interest during his education at Millsaps, served as the stage manager. Sam Sparks, another Millsaps alum, is set designer and production manager for this show. (By the by, Sam directed another show, Metamorphoses, which is running this weekend at Millsaps. I am going to try to get by there tonight to see it.)
The show does not run long, and it is definitely worth seeing. I enjoyed it, and I recommend it as a great way to get into the Halloween mood! The Woman in Black will be performed from now until October 30th, and tickets are$22 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. To order tickets, call the box office at 601-948-3531.
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