REVIEW: The Woman in White, Connaught Theatre, Worthing

With a quality cast, fine scenery and rave reviews, it brought a tingle of excitement and anticipation to Tuesday’s opening night, despite the knowledge it runs to three hours, with two intervals.

However it was that fine scenery that was possibly the undoing in Worthing.

At the start, there was some confusion over the set, with a luxurious living room taking up with stage, although the tale was of a meeting on a London Road (why not drop a curtain or black out the rest for that bit?).

And at the end, the very clever sets required a change between each scene, breaking the suspense that had been built up as we headed to the final shocking revelations.

That said, stalwarts like Colin Baker (Count Fosco) and Peter Amory (Sir Percival Glyde) kept up the tension, supported ably by Thomas Brownlee (Waleter Hartright)

But it was the women who stole the show, particularly Lucy Cudden (Marian Holcombe) and, of course, Isla Carter as both Laura Fairlie and the mad woman, Anne Catherick.

The Woman in White runs until Saturday, at 7.30pm daily with matinées today (Wednesday, September 14) and Saturday (September 10).

By Elaine Hammond.