London's Fortune Theatre
I guess a ghost story isn’t really a mystery, but it’s certainly mysterious, so that’s close enough for this blogger. 
Before I left for London I checked to see what was playing at the theaters and found out that two mysteries are opening soon — “The Secret of Sherlock Holmes” and “Deathtrap” — but too late for me. Of course the most famous mystery in London theater history is Agatha Christie’s “Mousetrap,” but I saw it recently at our community theater and wanted to try something new.
“The Woman in Black,” is not, however, new. It’s been running in London since June… of 1989! The play starts with an older man, Arthur Kipps, getting acting lessons from a younger man, who is helping him tell the story that’s haunted him for years. The play thus has two stories — first, the story of Arthur’s interactions with the actor, and second, what happened to Arthur when he visited the home of Alice Drablow in his role as solicitor following her death.
I read a few reviews that talked about how surprising it is that two guys on a stage with only a few props and sound effects can create such a scary atmosphere, and about how people often scream and get carried away with the story. I can affirm that both of these things are true (no, I wasn’t one of the screamers, but there were quite a few). Apparently the actors have changed several times over the long run of this show, but I saw Michael Mears as Arthur Kipps and Orlando Wells as the actor, directed by Robin Herford, and thought they were excellent. If you’re going to be in London, give this play a try. I even got my ticket for half price day of show at the tkts booth in Leicester Square!
Outside the Fortune Theatre
Update: And look, it’s being made into a movie!
