The Mexican production of La Dama de Negro (The Woman in Black) celebrated 900 performances August 21 at the Teatro Benito Juarez in Mexico City.

Based on the novel by Susan Hill and adapted by Stephen Mallatratt, La Dama de Negro opened in Mexico City February 17 1994 starring German Robles as a lawyer obsessed with the belief that his family has been cursed by The Woman in Black, and Rafael Perrin as a sceptical young actor who helps the lawyer to recount his experiences. Perrin is also the director of the show.

This thrilling ghost story is produced in Mexico by Carlos Bracho and Antonio Calvo.

For The Woman in Black German Robles won the 1994 Heraldo Award for Best Actor in a Play, and that same year the Mexican Critic Association awarded Rafael Perrin as the Best Supporting Actor in a Play.

On January 17, 1997; Rafael Perrin suffered a heart attack as a result of the stressful role he was playing. Guillermo Sauceda replaced Perrin on February 6, 1997, and just a few weeks ago Sauceda was replaced by Jorge Antolin. German Robles is still playing his role. Fortunately, Rafael Perrin is now recovered and ready to direct a new Mexican musical called Houdini: La Magia del Amor(Houdini: The Magic of Love) based in the life of the legendary magician/escape artist Harry Houdini, with music by Antonio Calvo and lyrics by Patricia Perrin.

The special guests of the 900th performance of La Dama de Negro were actress Marga Lopez (Moon Over Buffalo, Nunsense, Agnes of God), actor Gustavo Rojo (La Cage Aux Folles, Mame) and the president of OCESA, Federico Gonzalez Compean.

It is a tradition in Mexico to celebrate each 100 performances of a show inviting special guests onto the stage to unveil the plate and to read the cast and production credits that are engraved on it. Usually, there´s a small cocktail party after that special performance and the commemorative plate is hang up at the lobby of the theatre along with plates from other productions.

Shortly, The Woman in Black will leave her home, the Teatro Benito Juarez, to make room for Houdini: The Magic of Love which is now in rehearsals and is scheduled to open October 23. According to producer Antonio Calvo, there are plans to re-open Woman at another theatre.

The original London production of The Woman in Black is playing since 1989 at the Fortune Theatre, where it continues to terrify audiences eight times a week.

La Dama de Negro is appearing at the Teatro Benito Juarez on Thurs. at 8:30 PM, Sat. at 6 and 8:30 PM and Sun.at 6 PM.

-- By Claudio Carrera
Mexico Correspondent