Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 9th November 2024
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
4*****
As the author of ‘Rebus’ books, Ian Rankin has worked with Simon Reade to bring his iconic detective character to the stage. The production sees Rebus, who has recently retired, involved in an after-dinner murder mystery game that is written by the host and charged with alcohol and tension.
The audience is introduced to the guests as they begin their ruminations about the murder of a fictitious character, ‘Lord Manningham’. The set itself draws you into the secrets and tales of a stately home and its guests. As the dinner guests share their various theories, we are gradually introduced to the complex relationships between guests and their varying characteristics. All activity and drama are played out in the dining room.
For the first half of the play, it seems that the audience is part of the game and tasked with solving the mystery alongside the dinner party guests. Rebus (played by Gray O’Brien) himself makes plenty of contribution to discussions. The comings and goings of each of the guests feel a little mundane and have no bearing on solving the mystery set by their host.
At the end of the first half, the classic ‘twist in the tale’ is unveiled: a guest discovers a body in a room elsewhere in the house. Suddenly, every detail of the play so far becomes more relevant. At half time, the audience is left tracking back over the detail of the first half, desperately trying to anticipate how a death has occurred in the house, right under everyone’s nose.
In the second half, the tension and suspicion between guest rises and the possibility that anyone at the party could be responsible for murder is introduced with a vengeance. Rebus himself switches from involved guest to crime scene investigator, clearly invigorated by the opportunity to ‘get back to work’. Every movement from the first half is retraced and every interaction between guests is analysed. Rebus shows that he still has what it takes to solve a crime but not without consequence to the relationships between guests.
The brilliance of this show lies in the skilful way that the cast portray each of the characters as mere dinner guests and potential murderers in equal measure. It certainly isn’t a straightforward murder mystery play but more a case of two mysteries.