| It's rare to find a real pearl amongst the swine of touring productions. Many regional plays are so badly staged and acted that you can only wonder why even more people haven't turned their backs on the theatre and welcomed their DVDs. A few years ago, I happened upon what's now a cult classic - The Woman in Black - and while I was sceptical that a ghost story could translate to theatre, I was optimistic that it could break the mould of unfunny farces and stone-cold romances and tragedies. And, by crikey, that mould was smashed to pieces and even now after having seen the play several times, I still wonder at the magnificent script and staging of Susan Hill's spooky classic. For those who haven't seen the WIB, now one of the longest running tour productions in the country, here's the tale: ageing solicitor Arthur Kipps (played by Paul Webster) goes to an actor (Damien Matthews) and asks for help in getting something fairly mighty of his chest. As a young man Arthur endured a terrible, terrifying experience that chilled his heart for life. Now feels he has to share his story with his family and friends before he can exorcise the ghosts of his past. The actor turns the tale of Arthur's winter visit to the gothic Eel Marsh House, set on marsh-flats in the north east, and his brushes with the deathly Woman in Black into a stage play, dragging the audience into the heart of Arthur's terror. Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation is a work of genius and though it sounds improbable, the cast of two bring the play to life in hair-raising style, using just coats and a giant clothes hamper to bring the story to life. Lighting and sound combined with Damien Matthews' stunning portrayal of the young Arthur Kipps transport the audience straight into the horrifying experience endured by the poor young lawyer both then and for the rest of his life. Sadly, the cavernous theatre space at the Alex seemed to dissipate some of the tension, particularly in the adrenalin-packed second half of the play - some of the bigger surprises didn't seem to hit the mark because the audience either couldn't hear or couldn't see. Matters were not helped either by a weak performance from Paul Webster, who mumbled through many lines. He really should have left out his attempts at accents too! The Woman in Black is a theatrical tour de force in the right setting and with the right cast. Although we were provided with a decent night's entertainment, I was able to sleep with the light off - proof positive that it just missed the mark. | 
