The Woman in White is a Victorian thriller which involves a mysterious woman who resembles the fiancée of Sir Percival Glyde, a desperate fortune hunter. Colin Baker plays the conniving Count Fosco who helps Sir Percival Glyde, played by Peter Amory, in his atrocious plan to inherit a huge amount of money, but when a secret and a mysterious woman stands in his way, the plot thickens.

Isla Carter plays Miss Laura Fairlie and the Woman in White. Her performance is both strong and chilling. She played both parts well, from being a calm and gentle young women to a shrieking and confused woman who has escaped from an asylum. The costumes were well made and suited the era the play was set in, especially Miss Laura Fairlie’s green dress which she wears for the second part of the production. The costume designers have done a great job.

Thomas Brownlee plays Sir Walter Hartright, the art teacher who comes to teach Miss Fairlie but soon falls in love with her – forming a love-triangle. Brownlee plays the dashing hero and detective who protects his love from ruin. However even though Brownlee fits the part, his acting sadly did not. Every line he said was over-acted and almost shouted at the audience. There was a part where he had to read out a letter to the awaiting audience, he said the lines so fast that I couldn’t understand a word, even though he was saying them loudly. Lucy Cudden plays Miss Marian Holcombe, Miss Fairlie’s sister and loyal friend. Cudden plays the headstrong, smart women well and seems very relaxed in her role. Apart from a couple of slip-ups with her lines, which could have been due to opening night nerves, she was great.

However, the actor who stole the night was Baker. He brought a lightness to the beginning of the play, being both funny and charming. Nevertheless, Count Fosco turned out to be the brains behind the evil plot that he and Sir Percival Glyde had conducted to become rich. Baker plays both funny and devious brilliantly. Also, his costume (with his pointy shoes!) was perfect and true to the character’s eccentric personality, with his random opera singing and funny voice.

Overall this is an intriguing and thrilling story – this Victorian thriller is still one to go and see. The director has done a good job of this production, even though some of the acting did lack a bit of substance. Be that as it may, the play is still one to go and see because of the tense storyline and Colin Baker’s superb performance.