The Woman In Black
About the Play
The framework of this spine tingler is unusual: a lawyer hires an actor to tutor him in recounting to family and friends a story that has long troubled him concerning events that transpired when he attended the funeral of an elderly recluse. There he caught sight of the woman in black, the mere mention of whom terrifies the locals, for she is a specter who haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed. Anyone who sees her dies! The lawyer has invited some friends to watch as he and the actor recreate the events of that dark and stormy night.
The Woman in Black is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (Samuel French)
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
“So imagine if you would . . . .” Is there a more apt line in any play? Like many nursery stories begin with ‘Once upon a time’; every play could begin with that one line, “So imagine if you would. . . .” When playwright Stephen Mallatratt wrote that line in 1987, he was not speaking to actors, designers or producers huddled around a script; but to those who have paid the price to be here and have brought with them the single most important commodity of the stage – an audience’s imagination. For it is the audience and its imagination that propels this ghost story, as much as the text so ably spoken by our actors or the clever work of our designers. In this process, we are not creat ing reality on stage but merely providing fuel to the imaginations of those who have paid the price of admission to be truly entertained. This is the true magic of live theatre, each perform ance changes with what the audience brings to the table. So, whether it is the stage of the Fortune Theatre in London or Hendry Hall in North Vancouver, the environment of The Woman In Black never truly changes – it is always set in the imagination of our audience. The Woman In Black’s recognition that the most important element in the storytelling is your imagination has propelled this play to becoming the second longest running drama on the London stage. And so we ask of you . . . Imagine if you would, this stage an island, this aisle a causeway, run ning like a ribbon between the salt marsh and the sea . . . .”. – Randy Poulis
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to the second production of our 2011/2012 season of wonderful live theatre at Hendry Hall! This gripping play promises to keep us on the edge of our seats and the heart-stopping memories will surely linger on long after we leave the theatre to go home and try to sleep. Enjoy the show!
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support for North Van Players. We love sharing our special stage with you. – Sue Worrow
| Character | Played by |
| Actor | Robert Sidley |
| Kipps | Kurtis Maguire |
| Director | Randy Poulis |
| Author | Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill |
| Production Managers | Carolyn Coles, Alison Precious |
| Stage Manager | Kathleen Denkewalter |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Gerardo Señorás Barcala |
| Set Design | Glynnis Brassil |
| Set Construction | Gordon Pope, Randy Poulis |
| Set Decorator | Glynnis Brassil |
| Lighting Designer | Randy Poulis |
| Lighting Assistant | Simon Drake |
| Sound Designer | Anne Marsh |
| Lighting Operators | Sandy Branning, Kathy Bradley |
| Sound Operator | Gerardo Señorás Barcala |
| Properties Design | Marie Brazier |
| Properties Assistance | Carolyn Coles, Alison Precious |
| Costumes | Beatrijs Brett |
| Make-Up Design | Britt Schottelius |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Rosemary Hundal |
| Box Office | Sue Worrow |
| Tickets | Sue Worrow, Fran Heaney |
| Photographer | Gary Schwartz |
| Videographer | Chris Wolfe |
| Original Performance Dates | October 21 to November 5, 2011 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 2 Hours |
| Production Style | Chilling Ghost Story |
| Special Thanks To | Park & Tilford, Rona,Rosemary Hundal, Park Royal Community Centre, Robin Boxwell, Arts Club Theatre, Matthijs Eterman Liz Massil, Best Film Service Inc., Audrey Hobbs-Johnson Terry Mulder, Valerie Tutti, Chris Wolfe |
| Randy Poulis | Director – After designing the lights for North Vancouver Community Player’s If We Are Women and Light Sensitive; Randy is turning his hand to directing with The Woman In Black. Past directing credits included Da, Daughters, Harvey, an award-winning production of Toronto, Mississippi, Loot and Steel Magnolias; to name a few. Randy graduated with his MFA in Theatre Design from UVic in 2004. www.lightworkz.ca. |
| Carolyn Coles | Co-Production Manager – Carolyn has recently been producing plays for community theatre in other areas of the Lower Mainland and is very happy to return to NVCP at Hendry Hall to co-produce The Woman in Black. It’s an intriguing show, technically challenging and, thanks to the talented cast and crew, has captured the atmosphere desired by playwright Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill. Let the mystery unfold and envelope you! |
| Alison Precious | Co-Production Manager – Alison has been involved in productions at Hendry Hall for the last 12 years as producer, with props. management, costumes, set decoration, and even occasionally ‘treading the boards’. She is thrilled to be working with the cast and crew of this production in the best little community theatre in BC. |
| Kathleen Denkewalter | Stage Manager – Kathleen has been a member of North Vancouver Community Players for over 20 years and has worked with several other community theatre groups in the Vancouver area. She is involved in almost every aspect of theatre from directing to painting flats. She is especially fond of stage managing, and so she is happy to be doing that job in this creative and challenging production. |
| Kurtis Maguire | Kipps – Kurtis first performed for NVCP in The Sacred Flame and is delighted to be a part of The Woman in Black. With over 50 plays to his credit, his favourite works include The Crucible, Pentecost, Hamlet, Twelve Angry Men, Grimley Fiendish and the title role in Richard III. Kurtis extends the sincerest of thanks to his wonderful director, cast and crew, and to his dark angel, Tasha. “This is by far the scariest play I have ever read… enjoy!” |
| Robert Sidley | Actor – Robert, a Kitsilano native, is returning to performing after a 15-year absence. After taking time away from acting to raise a family, he is very excited to be involved in NVCP’s production of The Woman in Black. Robert has appeared in numerous television and film productions including Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry, 21 Jump Street, and Beachcombers, as well as having just completed a very successful run of Einstein’s Gift at the Carousel Theatre. In his non-acting life, Robert is an internationally recognized educator and a founding member of the Sticky Fingers competitive BBQ team. |