Churchill Theatre, Bromley – until 19 October 2019
Reviewed by Elizabeth J Smith
5*****
I loved the book The Girl On The Train and was extremely disappointed by the film, so what of the play?
The Girl on the Train is a story of manipulation, passion and jealousy.
We watch as Rachel sinks lower into despair, defeated by the demon drink. She has lost her husband, her job and now her home. She faces allegations of murder and as she can’t remember what she has done the night before or almost any nights lately, how will she unravel this puzzle as to what happen to Megan Hipwell. Prior to the night she died, Megan had been the fantasy character in Rachel’s confused and deteriorating mind. As she watched Megan and her husband from the train she built a whole world for this coupled and as fate would have it, they lived just down the road from Rachel’s ex husband, Tom, and his new wife Anna.
Rachel’s own story reveals how she got where she is today but was it really all her doing or was there a driving force behind her demise? Could she really kill someone? As the story unfolds and the drunken fog in her mind begins to clear can she work out what really went on that fateful Saturday night.
Samantha Womack, Rachel Watson, gives a tremendous performance of a woman losing herself in the bottle. From her unkempt appearance, to her untidy home, she convinces us of Rachel’s demise into blackout mode and confusion. Her portrayal of a functioning drunk is subtle and
totally convincing. As we follow Rachel’s story Samantha transform her into a less confused individual to one that is thinking clearer each day.
Oliver Farnworth, plays Scott Hipwell, the grieving husband of the deceased Megan. He expertly shows us how love can turn to hatred and violence in a flash. But does that make him a killer?
Adam Jackson-Smith, convinces us of Tom Watson’s caring side as he tends to his ex wife in her hour of need and we watch the transformation of Tom into a manipulative monster who will do anything to secure his perfect life.
John Douglas, DI Gaskill, brings a lighter side to this destructive story, with great one liners and an air of “it’s just a job” attitude.
The rest of the characters are played with finesse, unravelling each twist and turn of the story to reveal the unexpected finale.
So as for the play, I loved it.
The staging was dark, with minimalist sets, emphasising the depressing state of Rachels mind and situation.
This for me was a truer interpretation of the original book and if you love a murder mystery you’d be hard pressed to find one as good as this.