A little bit of old fashioned smoke and mirrors

Hello, lovelies. 

           The nights are darker, the heating is being turned on, and that means only one thing. Its officially my favourite time of the year. And today is my favourite holiday of all, Halloween! I’ve dug out all my old and trusty decorations, even if they are very old and ever so slightly battered. Gone backwards and forwards as to what I am going to dress up as. And finally planned on how I am going to eat my entire weight in sweets. I love Halloween! Who doesn’t? A time to bring out all our hidden fears and celebrate them. Why then, am I just not feeling it this year? Have I finally become too old to dress up and eat way too many chocolates? Will I ever watch a scary film and get goose bumps again? Or have I just realised that I shouldn’t fear monsters and ghosts, as humans and politicians are far scarier. Have we been exposed to violent video games and slasher movies, so now we can only see the potholes in the plot rather than being carried away with the special effects? With the internet and computer technology is there anything left to be scared of? Or is it time to take a step back and take pleasure in the simpler things in life that sends shivers down our spines? 

       My third favourite theatre of all time just happens to be The Fortune theatre, London. It is situated in a secluded part of London’s Soho. And for the past 30 years it has been the home of the spine tingling The Woman in Black. A very basic set, two actors and some clever lighting brings the brilliant and intricate story by Susan Hill to life. From the second the lights begin to fade you are drawn into a clever and chilling story that can stay with you for life. Working there for the past three years, and having seen it close to 300 times, yes, I am the only usher who asks to sit in and watch both acts, and I marvel at how the unsuspecting audience arrive thinking that they won’t be affected by the ghostly tale only to be jumping out of their seats half way through act one. There is something so satisfying sitting at the back of the auditorium and watching the audience jump and screak right up till the final bow. No special effects. No guts and gore. Just the right setting and the use of our imagination. 

          Over the past few weeks, I asked my friends and colleagues what really scares them. And their answers were varied and to some degree, typical. Spiders. Big dogs. Little dogs. The dark. The unknown. Ghosts. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Does that mean that we have evolved to no longer fear anything? Turn on the TV and you can watch shows about ghost hunting, searching for big foot and even the eternal search for the Lock Ness monster. We no longer have to fear them. Now we can star in a whole franchise trying to find them. We can watch endless films about zombies, vampires and wear wolves. Witches and wizards, cults and cannibals. Anything our hearts could desire. No wonder that we’ve become numb to it all. 

         As I was trying to wade my way through the mountain on ironing yesterday, I was flicking through YouTube, and came across a whole assortment of black and white films staring the impeccable Vincent Price. Okay, sure the plots were a little tired and unfeasible, but the basic premise was that by using our imagination can really lead to some creepy and thrilling evenings watching older, but equally as scary movies. Spending money of special effects and props is all well and good. But when you think that you see something out the corner of your eye, or when you think that you are no longer alone in your home, can be just as good as any blockbuster movies. I worked last night at the fortune theatre, and we were allowed to dress up for the occasion. I ripped up one of my old work shirts, covered myself in fake blood and travelled up the Northern line to some sideways glasses and one or two wide eyed children. My costume? I was a killer usher who would murder any patron who wouldn’t show me their tickets. It was a hoot.

            I’m okay with no longer hiding behind a cushion as I watch a scary film. Or by driving down a dark country lane late at night, and not worrying that an axe welding manic might jump out in front of my car. There are things that scare me. That terrify me if the truth be told, but they have nothing to do with ghosts and ghoulies. Climate change and corrupt politicians, that will do it. That will have me up late at night, cowering under the duvet.

       I cannot recommend the Woman in Black enough. To spend an evening being drawn along with Arthur Kipps and with the use of old school smoke and mirrors, can lead to nothing more than a spooky, chilling evening.