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Post by xanady on May 26, 2019 20:05:49 GMT
When I take groups to see this I always explain that it is a smaller-scale affair than they might expect in the glitzy WE.Quite an atmospheric theatre, but no London Palladium.Also,crucially the opening fifteen mins is very slow so perhaps people gave up on it before the nerve-jangling story started to kick in properly.Suppose it’s all down to expectations or perhaps very limited attention-spans?
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Post by sfsusan on May 29, 2019 20:11:26 GMT
I saw this a few months ago and it was pretty much what I expected. Some moments where I stuck my fingers in my ears (you could pretty much anticipate the loud noises and things jumping out), but there was fairly decent suspense built*.
Then last week I decided to spend a few nights in Maldon, only to learn that nearby Osea Island was the inspiration for the island setting. I decided NOT to walk out there during low tide, so maybe the play was more effective than I thought!
(*A large school group was attending, and their reactions were more startling than what happened on stage, since they screamed very loudly when things happened. And then dissolved into giggles in reaction.)
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Post by xanady on Feb 8, 2020 9:25:36 GMT
Booking extended to March 2021...one of the greatest success stories in the history of theatre in the WE goes on and on...congrats to them!
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Feb 10, 2020 9:17:17 GMT
One of those I plays I always wanted to see one day, but always found something more interesting. Several years ago I went to The Mousetrap and two years ago to this. Both are in the 'glad I've seen it but need never to see it again'-camp. Find it more of a miracle Mousetrap is still running, I remember a few bored pensioners at the matinee while Woman in Black was fairly full, lots of teenagers...probably something to do with Mousetrap not discounting at all, while Woman is on TKTS And Mousetrap has a massive cast compared to this...
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Post by Jan on Feb 10, 2020 10:52:40 GMT
…. Woman in Black was fairly full, lots of teenagers...probably something to do with Mousetrap not discounting at all, while Woman is on TKTS And Mousetrap has a massive cast compared to this... Also to do with Woman in Black being a long-running set text for GCSE Drama/English |
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Feb 10, 2020 11:51:54 GMT
…. Woman in Black was fairly full, lots of teenagers...probably something to do with Mousetrap not discounting at all, while Woman is on TKTS And Mousetrap has a massive cast compared to this... Also to do with Woman in Black being a long-running set text for GCSE Drama/English Yes, that might be it. Remember a terrible matinee of An Inspector Calls in Wimbledon, basically only school groups...similar situation I guess. |
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Post by Jan on Feb 10, 2020 12:07:29 GMT
Also to do with Woman in Black being a long-running set text for GCSE Drama/English Yes, that might be it. Remember a terrible matinee of An Inspector Calls in Wimbledon, basically only school groups...similar situation I guess. Yes that has also been on the GCSE list for a while. Another is a play called DNA which got a revival at Southwark within the last couple of years for that reason. Macbeth at NT too of course. |
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Post by anita on Feb 10, 2020 15:25:43 GMT
I don't get it. Even if they were extremely cheap/comp tix one couple couldn't even wait for the interval to leave. I got the impression when I saw them picking up their tickets that they didn't come to the theatre much,which makes their behaviour even odder. We were in the dress circle so I wonder if it was a view thing or they were expecting a bigger production. The book is very atmospheric & much scarier. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2020 16:38:59 GMT
Took advantage of the short running time of "Far Away" at the Donmar to see this for the first time - thought it was excellent! Dump of a theatre though, which I guess is what happens when you have such a long-running show, with the most revolting and impractical gents toilet I've ever seen.
I got the end of row C stalls from TodayTix for £28 which seemed a good deal.
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Post by david on Oct 12, 2021 16:48:35 GMT
An unexpected visit to the Fortune Theatre this afternoon thanks to a £15 Today Tix Row B stalls ticket. It’s been a good few years since watching TWIB but for me it’s still the best ghost story I’ve seen on stage and still delivers the jump scares when needed. Though the auditorium could do with a bit of a refurb to be honest.
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Post by TallPaul on Oct 12, 2021 17:32:58 GMT
If Sir Alan came round mine for dinner, as one of my four guests, I'd ask him, after a few glasses of wine, if it rankles that the SJT's biggest commercial hit is The Woman in Black, rather than one of his own plays. I'm sure he'd say "no". 😡
Fun fact: The entire Fortune Theatre - backstage, auditorium, grotty toilets, everything - would fit on the stage of the Theatre Royal over the road. (This was told to me by one of the Drury Lane tour guides, so may or may not be true.)
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Post by mrbarnaby on Oct 13, 2021 3:36:29 GMT
If Sir Alan came round mine for dinner, as one of my four guests, I'd ask him, after a few glasses of wine, if it rankles that the SJT's biggest commercial hit is The Woman in Black, rather than one of his own plays. I'm sure he'd say "no". 😡 Fun fact: The entire Fortune Theatre - backstage, auditorium, grotty toilets, everything - would fit on the stage of the Theatre Royal over the road. (This was told to me by one of the Drury Lane tour guides, so may or may not be true.) That is definitely true. The fortune is TINY |
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Post by edi on Feb 9, 2022 9:05:05 GMT
Saw it again last night after 15 years. It was less scary this time but well worth the front of stalls todaytx £15 tickets.
It would be better played through without an interval.
Cannot understand why the woman is not credited and not taking the bows. She has a role from early on and throughout so not exactly a "secret "
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Post by properjob on Feb 9, 2022 18:19:22 GMT
She is credited in the program or at least was if you look carefully. She is something like vision productions.
Not having any evidence of her anyway allows you to try and convince someone who watched the show that you never saw her and only they could see her. I'm sure several bored teachers have tried that with a particularly annoying and gulible set of pupils from time to time over the years!
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Post by Figaro on Feb 9, 2022 19:59:21 GMT
There was no interval when I saw it about 2 years ago.
Prior to this I had seen it a few times with an interval.
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Post by richey on Mar 26, 2022 18:54:07 GMT
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Post by Mark on May 31, 2022 22:26:38 GMT
Made a return this afternoon for the first time since 2011, as a friend had never seen it. Got a ticket in the stalls for £13.55 through TKTS - great deal. I do wonder what has kept this running for 30+ years now. It is average at best, and I'm not sure it's worthy of it's museum piece status.
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Post by anthony on Aug 12, 2022 15:23:35 GMT
Picked up £13 tickets yesterday on TKTS for band C (although looking on the official booking page, I think they're actually band B - or at least they're sold as band B on the ATG website)
Show is in good shape. I've seen it twice before, but always forget the framing of the show (A performance of a performance!) Theatre was empty; only a couple on the same row as me in the stalls. Maybe 100 or so people in yesterday's matinee. Guessing it survives from schools during term time.
Go and see it, even if you have before. Both of the actors are great and probably the cheapest night out you'll find in London... the evening performance was reduced even further.
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Post by starlight92 on Aug 12, 2022 16:16:27 GMT
Quite tempted by these super cheap tickets, but I'm a bit of a wuss unfortunately - obviously as someone said earlier fear is subjective, but how scary do people actually find it?
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Post by Mark on Aug 12, 2022 16:20:54 GMT
Quite tempted by these super cheap tickets, but I'm a bit of a wuss unfortunately - obviously as someone said earlier fear is subjective, but how scary do people actually find it? I wouldn't say it was particularly scary and I'm also a wuss. |
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 12, 2022 16:33:20 GMT
It probably seems counter intuitive, but I would recommend sitting as close to the stage as possible. In my experience, the 'fright' ripples through the auditorium from front to back. Someone screams, which makes the person behind scream, then the person behind them...
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 12, 2022 17:33:01 GMT
Interesting that we rarely see discussions about plays “clogging up” West End theatres. It’s always the musicals.
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Post by Jon on Aug 12, 2022 18:20:33 GMT
Interesting that we rarely see discussions about plays “clogging up” West End theatres. It’s always the musicals. TBF The Fortune isn't exactly a desirable theatre so it's no surprise it's been able to stay put for so long. Would love to see the St Martin's being used for a new show and perhaps move The Mousetrap to its original home of the Ambassadors. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2022 18:23:49 GMT
I think its more jumpy than scary, but does have a creepy atmosphere and its so well staged. Pure theatre.
Definitely sit as close as possible I agree
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Post by anthony on Aug 12, 2022 19:51:42 GMT
Interesting that we rarely see discussions about plays “clogging up” West End theatres. It’s always the musicals. TBF The Fortune isn't exactly a desirable theatre so it's no surprise it's been able to stay put for so long. Would love to see the St Martin's being used for a new show and perhaps move The Mousetrap to its original home of the Ambassadors. The programme claims record bookings since reopening following Covid. Which is no surprise really - Woman in Black is on a couple of exam boards and is regularly taught at KS3, so it's obviously surviving on school visits during term time. I'm a teacher and after the autumn term, there was a lot of emphasis on enrichment trips following 2 years of having no trips at all. Genuinely around 100 in the entire theatre yesterday. |
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