Reviewed by Jenny Seymour
A moral, philosophical tale of intrigue and guilt that will keep you gripped until the final curtain.
What can I say about the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield? It is a beautiful, classic theatre setting in which to watch such a classic thriller. I was left intrigued when the lady on the door said that if you left the auditorium during the performance, they would not let you back in – what was going to happen?
Patricia Highsmith was catapulted into fame as a crime novelist when Hitchcock took Strangers on a Train, her first novel, and turned it into a movie the following year. However, her other significant character was Tom Ripley (in the Talented Mr Ripley and other novels) and her characters here are equally as good at charm, blackmail and manipulation.
This tale is about how the lives of two strangers become entwined when the psychopathic alcoholic Charles Bruno (Chris Harper, Coronation Street) concocts the perfect murders. If he gets rid of Guy Haines’ (Jack Ashton, Call the Midwife) philandering ex-wife and Guy murders Bruno’s tight-fisted father, it would free them both from the people preventing them from fulfilling their dreams and no-one would be able to track them back to the scene, as they were two totally unconnected strangers on a train, each with their own alibi. However, they didn’t bank on Arthur Gerard (John Middleton, Emmerdale) – Bruno’s father’s personal security guard and ex-policeman to be on their trail and nor does Guy bank on Bruno reappearing in his life and inviting himself into his home and ruining their original plan to remain as strangers. Will they carry out Bruno’s plot? Who will get murdered? Will Arthur discover the murderers and how they are linked? Will Bruno make one too many mistakes? Will the guilt eventually wear them down?
Act 1 had me gripped from the moment the US flag set opened to show the train carriage where the two unfortunate characters meet. As I say, for those, like me who hadn’t actually seen the classic Hitchcock movie, Act 1 indeed was totally gripping and left us all talking about what we thought would happen next in Act 2. However, I understand it doesn’t follow the film that closely and instead follows more the original novel written by Patricia Highsmith and in Act 2, there wasn’t as much suspense leading up to the final scene.
The set and sound effects were truly incredible and were so effective at all times. From the very first scene with that train carriage, when the 2 strangers meet for what is the start of their almost unbelievable journey of corruption, to the final scene, set in an old railway yard. The use of dry ice and smoke made the final scene exceedingly eerie. Throughout you were transported back to the late 40s/early 50s – from the décor in the bar, the music playing and hummed throughout and the costumes. The use of the moving stairs in Bruno’s house to show him walking up and down them, counting the paces and noting those with a squeak to help plot the perfect murder was very clever. As was the use of voice-changing technology to portray the voices down the phone lines and how the main set changed from showing the lower levels of the house to the rooftop. I did think someone may jump off that at one point (but couldn’t possibly give anything away!).
In the original novel, Bruno is described as an evil man and Guy, a weak one. However, I’m not so sure Guy is necessarily weak, but rather worn down by a long period of blackmail and physiological torture by mail and phone. I do think though that, whilst Chris Harper’s character portrayal of Bruno was phenomenal, in this production I don’t think enough is played of Guy’s gnawing guilt, frustration and anger. I didn’t think that character was as emotional as he could be.
The relationship between Bruno and his mother was played out very well, such that you could understand her behaviours throughout her scenes and the reason for her actions. Equally, the relationship between Ann and Guy was played really well by both Jack Ashton and Hannah Tointon. However, there are just so many threads to this novel that it is difficult to draw out all the characters and themes in one play. The guilt, the pursuit of happiness, the fine line between good and evil, black, white and shades of grey… I’m going to read the novel now to see if this is developed more.
My one criticism was that there were some teething problems with the set during Act one, which left it looking a bit shaky at one point. However, I am sure this is a first night issue that won’t be featuring in future performances.
Overall, a moral, philosophical gripping thriller that leaves you questioning whether or not to speak to a stranger on a train!
[Please note – the theatre only has an arrangement with the Q Park car park (you get £1 free parking) so bear this in mind when parking, as the car park next to the Crucible is quite expensive!]
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £33 (booking fees may apply).
Strangers on a Train is at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield from 15-20 January 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Lyceum Theatre, Norfolk St, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000
