Theater Night Out 3: The Woman in Black at Katia Dandoulaki Theater

Another play with only two actors ( and a ghost ). This time is a thriller and let me tell you from the scratch, it was excellent. I am talking about “The Woman in Black” presented at Katia Dandoulaki Theater here in Athens.

About

The Woman in Black is a 1983 horror novel by Susan Hill, written in the style of a traditional Gothic novel. It has been adapted into a stage play by Stephen Mallatratt and presented in December 1987 as a low budget production for the new Christmas play in Scarborough. It turned out to be so successful that it arrived in London's West End two years later in January 1989, taking up residence at the London Fortune Theatre on 7 June that same year and is currently the second longest-running play in the West End.

Image source

In Greece it was first introduced at 1992-93 by Alekos Alexandrakis and Danis Katranidis at Theater Ilisia and presented again by Danis Katranidis and George Kentros at Theater Meli at 2007 -08.

Image source

Storyline ( without spoilers )

The story is about Arthur Kipps a retired solicitor and the horrors he lived at Eel Marsh House when he had to examine the documents of a recently deceased client Mrs. Alice Drablow. Mallatratt's version sees Arthur rehearsing the story he wrote with an actor in an attempt to perform it to family and friends, which allows him to relive the haunting of Eel Marsh House as a play within a play.

Image source

This is a very clever trick which allows two actors replay to whole story. And of course we have the appearance of the Woman in Black which is a ghost and whenever people see her bad and scary things happen. I won’t tell you more . Go and see the play.

Cast

As I already told you , we have only two actors. Konstantinos Aspiotis plays the unnamed actor that Mr Kipps ( Nikos Kouris ) hires to help him perform his story. So the actor plays Kipps and Kipps plays all the other roles in this play within a play. Actually, we have a third actor playing the ghost, but I have no info on her. Guess is a junior actor that gathers experience.

Image source

Cast:
Unnaned Actor : Konstantinos Aspiotis (right)
Arthur Kipps : Nikos Kouris (left)

Translation - Direction: Nikorestis Chaniotakis
Sets: Mairy Tsagkari
Costumes : Vasiliki Syrma
Lights: Leftheris Paulopoulos

Theater Katia Dandoulaki is at Ag. Meletiou 61A st.

Excellent Storytelling

It was an awesome show and I strongly recommend it. For two hours you dive into a gothic atmosphere with the help of the outstanding performances, lights and sound effects. Aspiotis is probably the best actor of his generation and I have seen everything he did for the last 3 years. Just great.

Image source

I was amazed on how two people could tell such a story. It was like being there. At the marshes that extended as far as the eye could see. The isolated house. The cold, dusty rooms. The noises you heard and knew that she made them. The cemetery with only one grave and a huge cross that stood there for more than fifty years. The carriage and horses. You could hear the horses and the bumpy road. The only road and when the tide has high there was no escaping the house. You could feel the cold , the fog , the rain. And you could feel her. She didn’t appear much, but when she did you could feel the shivers down your spine. And her terrifying secret.

Have you been to a play ?
Use the #theaternightout and join the art.
Join the fun.

And until the next Theatre Night Out …
Be Healthy, Smile and Steem.

Would you recommend it? – YES

Would you see it again? – YES