The Theatre of Western Springs (TWS) presents its 2nd Mainstage play of the 85th season, “The Woman in Black,” adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill and directed by TWS Artistic Director Rick Snyder. Performances take place from Oct. 17 – 27, 2013, at TWS, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs.
Schedule:
• 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – Oct. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
• 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 20, 27
• 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
• 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20
A line from the play: “But out on the marshes just now, I saw a woman who…I cannot describe it…the expression on her face…desperate, yearning malevolence…filled with indescribable loathing and fear.”
Members of the audience will experience an evening of unremitting, spooky drama at “The Woman in Black.” It promises the power and intensity of live theatre combined with an almost cinematic-like “film noir” point of view.
“The Woman in Black is a ghost play and is our TWS Halloween show,” Director Snyder said. “Many ghost stories in print come to mind, but not too many exist for the stage as expertly crafted as this one. This adaptation is an immaculate example of the classic gothic horror story with a heightened theatrical twist.
“A middle-aged solicitor, tortured by his memories, hires an actor to help him act out a terrifying and inexplicable event in his life. His hope is to exorcise the experience. In doing so, both men doom themselves to a haunting which could have frightening and terrible consequences. Two actors, one ghost … Come join us for Halloween!”
The lawyer is played by Jim Hannigan of Hinsdale. The actor is played by Chris Bruzzini of Maywood, and the ghost is played by …(We’ll never tell…)
Tickets to “The Woman in Black” are $18 and $20. Call the box office at 708-246-3380 or go to: http://www.theatrewesternsprings.com. Free parking is available.
The origins of the play
In 1987, the director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, England, Robin Herford, realized he still had grant money to spend. He decided to produce a ghost story that could be staged quickly and inexpensively. He charged his resident playwright, Stephen Mallatratt, with the task of finding such a play.
A few days later Mallatratt came back praising the merits of a book he’d stayed up all night to read. It was a novel written in 1983 by Susan Hill, titled “The Woman in Black.”
Still reeling with excitement and inspiration, Mallatratt wrote a play within a play, one that needed only two speaking actors. A few weeks later, “The Woman in Black” opened in December of 1987 to a sold out audience at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. It later moved to the West End where it has played at the Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden since 1989.
“The Woman in Black” has been enjoyed by over seven million delightfully frightened theatre-goers.
Director Rick Snyder
Rick Snyder is the artistic director of the Theatre of Western Springs where he most recently directed “Slaughterhouse-Five.” Last season, he directed “Moonlight and Magnolias,” “Ghost in the Machine,” “Dracula” and “The Trip to Bountiful” at TWS as well as “In the Company of Men” at Profiles Theatre in downtown Chicago.
As an actor, director and teacher, he has enjoyed nearly 40 years of professional experience in theater, television and film. For 30 years he has been an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theater Company and as an actor, has appeared in over 40 productions there.
His many directing credits at Steppenwolf include “Orange Flower Water,” which received critical and audience acclaim both in Chicago and at the Galway Arts Festival in Ireland. He also directed “God of Carnage” at the Goodman Theatre.
Snyder won a Jeff Award for his direction of “Killer Joe” at Profiles Theatre. His other director's venues include American Theater Company, Northlight Theatre, Writers' Theatre and Strawdog Theatre.
In 2010, the Wall Street Journal named him "... one of the finest directors in Chicago."
He is slated to direct a new film, “Anita,” in Sardinia in 2014.
The Playwright
(Nigel) Stephen Mallatratt was an English playwright, actor, television screenwriter and actor. As an actor, he appeared in the films “Chariots of Fire” and “Brideshead Revisited.” On stage, he appeared in several important productions including “Absent Friends,” “Bedroom Farce,” “The Breadwinners” and “The Bronte’s of Haworth.”
He is best known, however, for his television work on the ITV series “Coronation Street,” “The Forsyth Saga” (2002) and “Island at War” (2004), and for his stage adaptation of the novel “The Woman in Black.”
Of their collaboration and unexpected success of “The Woman in Black,” Susan Hill wrote: “The play of my ghost novel owes everything to Stephen. He read it, saw how it could be adapted, and did so brilliantly …and the rest is theatre history.”
CAST
Actor - Chris Bruzzini of Melrose Park
Arthur Kipps - Jim Hannigan of Hinsdale
The Woman - is a ghost…
CREW
Director – Rick Snyder of Wheaton
Tech Director- Thad Hallstein of Chicago
Stage Manager – Darla Goudeau of La Grange
Assistant Stage Manager – Eileen Crow of Hinsdale
Assistant Stage Manager – Dennis Hudson of Western Springs
Assistant Stage Manager – Maggie Opal of Glen Ellyn
Costumes – Lori D’Asta of La Grange
Costumes – Peggy Carlson of La Grange
Dramaturg – Marion Reis of Wheaton
Hospitality - Carol Clarke of Hinsdale
Lights - Cal Turner of Naperville
House Manager - Mike Janke of Downers Grove
Makeup – Peggy Carlson of La Grange
Program Editor – Theresa Puskar of Westmont
Program Bios – Denise D’Asta of Darien
Props – Linda Bugielski of La Grange
Publicity – Kathy Kovarik of Chicago
Set Construction – Bob Erck of Darien
Set Design – Archie Benfield of Downers Grove
Set Dresser - Cheryle McKay of Clarendon Hills
Set Painting - Jennifer Collins of Woodridge
Sound – Joe Mills of Westchester
