Stage Dragon: The Woman in White – Electric Theatre

Published on: 25 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 25 Jan, 2025

Clare Salter as Anne Catherick. Picture: Danny Kaan

By Ferenc Hepp

We had a rare opportunity this week to see an Andrew Lloyd-Webber production in an intimate setting at the Electric Theatre.

The Woman In White had a short run in the West End with mixed reviews. This version by Quick Fantastic is produced by Alex Parker, who is also musical director. Alex is from Guildford originally and is now the Musical Director for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group.

Unfortunately, the venue appears less welcoming than in its home of local amateur theatre days, and it feels like we are trespassing a college music common room with lots of equipment all over the place taking up precious foyer space, but I shall concentrate on the quality of the entertainment once past the auditorium entrance doors.

The Cast of The Woman in White. (Danny Kaan)

Featuring a Tony-nominated score, the stage adaptation of this Victorian thriller takes us from the gas-lit streets of London to the windswept moors and stately homes of the North.

Walter Hartright’s life is changed forever after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman, dressed in white, desperate to reveal her chilling secret.

The score is complicated and a tough sing. The setting is dark and atmospheric, with minimal lighting. A black and white frame encompasses a colourful and passionate story, which evokes high emotion throughout.

The staging is kept relatively simple with the use of four screens which move on rails, operated by the cast. Despite this being an amateur production, there are several trained performers with professional credits.

Will Richardson as Walter (Danny Kaan)

From the off, we enjoy outstanding singing and performances by Will Richardson as Walter, Anna Vardy as Marian, and Georgie Gaudencio as Laura. The chemistry between all three is evident, and we are treated to the well-known ‘I Believe My Heart’ number between Richardson and Gaudencio, which is of the highest quality and very well received.

Vardy is hardly off stage throughout and gives a first-class commanding leading lady performance.

Everyone works very hard including the Ensemble, who deliver ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ in a very haunting manner.

We are soon introduced to the baddie of the piece, Glyde, played by Lee Thomas. We can tell
that there is something not quite pleasant about him straightaway, and Thomas’s increasingly sinister interpretation of him confirms this. Clare Salter is a perfectly mysterious Anne Catherick, and Elliott Griffiths provides a somewhat camp interpretation of Fosco with lots of humour, which is a brilliant contrast to the darker themes.

Tony Siddall commands the stage well as Mr Fairlie and Gareth Thomas with Clara Conquest complete a formidable cast of named characters.

The direction by Charlotte Conquest uses the small space smartly and brings out the best from everyone. There are no weak links.

The tricky score of solos, and group numbers are executed exceptionally by everyone, and the harmonies are a pleasure to listen to.

We go through a roller coaster of emotions, and all the performances are presented with 100 per cent commitment and in a heartfelt manner, which draws us into the narrative. Some of the Act 2 highlights include the musical numbers ‘Evermore Without You’ by Richardson, and ‘I Can Get Away with Anything’ by Griffiths.

This may be an amateur production; however, it would fit perfectly well onto a West End stage, and we were very lucky in Guildford to be able to see such a talented cast and production team who deliver such a first-class product. Bravo Quick Fantastic! You were fantastic!