Director: Robert Allan Ackerman
Starring: Laurence Fox, Jack Huston, Christian McKay, Miranda Raison, Imogen Stubbs, and MyAnna Buring
Synopsis: A chance meeting changes one man’s life as he enters a world of blackmail and murder.
Craig Warner’s play is an adaptation of the film by Alfred Hitchcock and the novel of Patricia Highsmith by the same name. It is a tense thriller with a subtle chill running through it. The director Robert Allan Ackerman has put together a play that manages to strike the right balance of thrill and suspense but perhaps does not get as dark or intense as it could.
Guy Haines, played by Laurence Fox, has a career on the assent as an architect who seems to be hitting the big time; however this could all be threatened by a young unfaithful wife. A chance meeting with a very charming but psychopathic alcoholic Charles Bruno (Jack Huston) has chilling consequences. Charles is wanting to be rid of his father so he can access the family fortune and proposes that they swap murders. The staid grey Guy is initially greatly resistant to Charles plan. However after discovering that Charles has killed his wife, Guy is slowly pressurised into making a fateful decision of becoming a murder or being framed for murder.
There are moments of suspense but perhaps the play does not become as dark and tense as it could. There are no moments of real tension or fear such as those experienced when watching the Woman in Black. The relationship between Charles and his mother (Imogen Stubbs) is a compelling and intriguing one; as this ageing southern belle panders to her effeminate sons needs but the undertones of the relationship appear to hint at a relationship of over bearing maternal control. Guys’ relationship with his new elegant wife Anne (Miranda Raison) seems to never fully develop as Guy is detached; focussing on his burgeoning career in architecture but slowly and extricably Guy feels the pressure and the demands of Charles who slips effortless in to all aspects of life. Laurence Fox does a passable American accent but is not fully convincing at times, he strikes a very solitary figure surrounded by others, especially when the set transforms mid scene into a society wedding in which Charles makes an unexpected appearance and charms Anne.
The scenery and setting of the stage especially the opening act are fabulously stylish with the monochrome set and costumes harking back to the time of black and white films. This manages to enhance the feeling of a film noir on set. Charles costume is always the opposite to the rest of the set whereas Guy and Anne’s outfits are various shades of grey. The revolving stage sets off some scenes fantastically especially the fairground scene when the merry go round revolves out of control. The flow between scenes seems to be effortless and is enhanced by the lighting and film backdrops which are used to create an atmosphere of suspense in a wood or the journey of the train carriages though the night into the unknown.
This production is impressive but it does however at times lacks suspense expected and creates a few nervous laughs but is one that can be recommended for those at ease with being entertained by an evening of murder, blackmail and troubled relationships.
Strangers On A Train is running at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End until 22nd February, 2014.
