Updated: Thursday, Sep. 30, 1999 at 11:41 CDT

Who is that `Woman in Black'? Circle Theatre's not telling

By Mark Lowry
Star Time

There's a really huge secret in Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation of Susan Hill's `The Woman in Black,' which will open Circle Theatre's new season.

And Circle director Rose Pearson is being as hush-hush about it as the makers of `The Crying Game' once were about that movie's big surprise.

She won't even tell `us.'

Of course, we could find the script and give it a once-over, but why spoil the fun?

Here's what we know: A lawyer (John Wayne Shafer) believes he and his family have been cursed by an enigmatic ghost from his past, a woman in black. He hires an actor (Ashley Wood) to help him replay the story, and hopefully get a little exorcise in.

From there, the details are sketchy. But expect some spine tingles not unlike (or, hopefully, chillier than) those accrued from Circle's production of Noel Coward's `Blithe Spirit' a few years back.

Except, in that case, we knew the ending.

`The Woman in Black' previews Wednesday through Oct. 8, and opens Oct. 9. Show times are 7:30 p.m. for previews; then it's 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; and 4 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. No matinee Oct 9. The opening-night reception, with "spirits and nibbles," begins at 7:30 p.m. with the performance at 8:30 p.m. Opening night tickets are $25. Preview prices are $10; during the run, it's $15 for Thursdays and Saturday matinees, and $20 for Friday and Saturday evenings. Half-price student rush tickets available on standby a half-hour before curtain time. Students and senior citizens are half price at Saturday matinees. Circle Theater accepts Tandy Vouchers and Bell Helicopter coupons, and the Star-Telegram Press Pass, with which you can purchase two half-price tickets for Friday-evening performances.

The Woman in Black
Wednesday through Nov. 13
Circle Theatre
230 W. Fourth St., Fort Worth
Price $10-$20
Call 877-3040
www.circletheatre.com

Send comments to markl@star-telegram.com