The Girl on the Train
★★★☆☆ Thrilling
Kings Theatre: Mon 25 – Sat 30 March 2019
Review by Sarah Moyes
Whether you know the story or not, The Girl on the Train – at the Kings Theatre until Saturday – will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the end.
Paula Hawkins’ novel became a worldwide phenomenon when it was released in 2015, followed by a movie adaptation the next year. This latest stage adaption directed by Anthony Banks follows the same story of commuter Rachel, who longs to escape her own life.
Samantha Womack Pic: Manuel Harlan
Rachel, played by Samantha Womack, spends her days watching what she thinks is the perfect couple from the train window on her daily commute. However, when the woman whose life she fantasises about goes missing, she finds herself in the middle of the police investigation as she fights to remember what happened the night of the disappearance.
The show begins in Rachel’s apartment which is littered with empty wine bottles and rubbish, a reflection of how much of a mess her life has become since she lost her husband and job and had to move out of their marital home.
Womack might be best known for her role in EastEnders, but she has plenty of experience in live theatre too. And it shows in a raw and powerful performance as the troubled Rachel. Not only is she struggling with an alcohol problem but her unhealthy obsession with Megan makes the police start to question what she really knows about the young woman’s mysterious disappearance.
The part of Rachel demands that Womack is on stage for the entire production, even during the scene changes. Which is an impressive display of acting endurance given the demanding nature of the part. She is supported by small but strong cast who help carry the story through.
emotional monologue
Kirsty Oswald is terrific in the role of Megan, whose problems you really understand through a very emotional monologue. Coronation Street’s Oliver Farnworth gives a strong performance as her partner Scott, a part that he seems to settle into more as the show goes on and his character’s traits unravel.
Oliver Farnworth and Samantha Womack. Pic: Manuel Harlan
While there’s no doubting the serious subject matter here, Rachel’s relationship with both her controlling ex-husband Tom (Adam Jackson-Smith) and his new wife Anna (Lowenna Melrose), and especially with DI Gaskill, played by Scottish actor John Dougall, provide some witty one-liners which break up the tense atmosphere.
James Cotterill’s set design provides an effective contrast between Rachael’s present and past lives, from her messy and chaotic apartment in one scene to Tom and Anna’s perfect suburban home in the next. The scenes between Rachel, Megan and her therapist Kamal (Naeem Hayat), however, consist solely of a few chairs, drawing you into the story which unfolds there.
Given the name of the play, it’s the train scene that you want to see the most. In this production, it’s not used very much but when it does appear the mix of projection, lights and rattling sounds by Andrzej Goulding, Jack Knowles and Ben and Max Ringham is very effective.
In a plot full of twists and turns, it’s not until the storyline develops quickly in the latter part of the second half that you become really gripped. That said, there is plenty in The Girl on the Train to keep fans of mystery and thrillers entertained.
Running time: two hours (including one interval)
King’s Theatre 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000
Monday 18 – Saturday 30 March 2019.
Evenings 7.30pm. Matinees Wed & Sat: 2.30pm. Book here.
Samantha Womack and Adam Jackson Smith. Pic: Manuel Harlan
| The Girl on the Train on tour 2019: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 25 – Sat 30 March | Edinburgh King’s Theatre |
0131 529 6000 | Book online |
| Mon 1 – Sat 6 April | Salford Lowry Theatre |
08432 086000 | Book online |
| Mon 8 – Sat 13 April | Bath Theatre Royal |
01225 448844 | Book online |
| Mon 15 – Sat 20 April | Glasgow Theatre Royal |
0844 871 7647 | Book online |
| Mon 22 – Sat 27 April | Northampton Royal & Derngate |
01604 624 811 | Book online |
| Mon 29 April – Sat 4 May | Newcastle Theatre Royal |
08448 11 21 21 | Book online |
| Tue 7 – Sat 11 May | Dartford Orchard Theatre |
01322 220000 | Book online |
| Mon 13 – Sat 18 May | Coventry Belgrade Theatre |
024 7655 3055 | Book online |
| Mon 20 – Sat 25 May | Nottingham Theatre Royal |
0115 989 5555 | Book online |
| Mon 27 May – Sat 1 June | Shrewsbury Theatre Severn |
01743 281281 | Book online |
| Mon 3 – Sat 8 June | Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre |
0818 719 377 | Book online |
| Tue 11 – Sat 15 June | Belfast Grand Opera House |
02890 241919 | Book online |
| Mon 17 – Sat 22 June | Brighton Theatre Royal |
0844 871 7650 | Book online |
| Mon 24 – Sat 29 June | Sheffield Lyceum Theatre |
0114 249 6000 | Book online |
| Mon 1 – Sat 6 July | Norwich Theatre Royal |
01603 63 00 00 | Book online |
| Mon 8 – Sat 13 July | Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre |
01483 44 00 00 | Book online |
| Mon 15 – Sat 20 July | Oxford Playhouse |
01865 305305 | Book online |
| Mon 19 – Sat 24 Aug | Canterbury The Marlowe Theatre |
01227 787787 | Book online |
| Mon 26 – Sat 31 Aug | Birmingham The New Alexandra Theatre |
0844 871 3011 | Book online |
| Tue 3 – Sat 7 Sept | Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre |
01224 641122 | Book online |
| Tue 10 – Sat 14 Sept | Bradford The Alhambra Theatre |
01274 432 000 | Book online |
| Tue 17 – Sat 21 Sept | High Wycombe Wycombe Swan |
01494 512000 | Book online |
| Mon 23 – Sat 28 Sept | Cambridge Arts Theatre |
01223 503333 | Book online |
| Mon 30 Sept – Sat 5 Oct | Plymouth Theatre Royal |
01752 230440 | Book online |
| Mon 7 – Sat 12 Oct | Swindon Wyvern Theatre |
01793 524 481 | Book online |
| Mon 14 – Sat 19 Oct | Bromley Churchill Theatre |
08448 717 620 | Book online |
| Mon 21 – Sat 26 Oct | Malvern Festival Theatre |
01684 892277 | Book online |
| Mon 28 Oct – Sat 2 Nov | Woking New Victoria Theatre |
0844 871 7645 | Book online |
| Mon 11 – Sat 16 Nov | Cardiff New Theatre |
029 2087 8889 | Book online |
| Tue 19 – Sat 23 Nov | Blackpool Winter Gardens |
0844 856 1111 | Book online |
ENDS
