The Alexandra, Birmingham – until Saturday 30th April 2022
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
4****
Catch Me If You Can is a slick and surprisingly funny thriller which is based on a French play by Robert Thomas. This adaptation is written by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert and directed by Bob Thornton. With a small but superb cast, this play pulls of a rip-roaring romp with a deeply thrilling plot containing more twists than the winding roads of the Catskills, which is where the ominous story opens.
Away in an Alpine style honeymoon cabin, several days after the disappearance of his wife Elizabeth, Daniel Corben is visited by a local priest, who brings home Daniel’s wife. Daniel, however, is convinced that this woman is an imposter, but no one seems to believe him, and he doesn’t seem to be able to prove he is telling the truth. Things start to take a sinister turn for the worst and Daniel not only has to protect his sanity but also his life.
Why is this happening? What is the truth? With the help of a detective, a sandwich maker and a moose, all is revealed…or is it?
Catch Me If You Can, in a word, is brilliant. It’s a well thought out and clever story that keeps you guessing up until its gripping climax. There is such great synergy between the cast leads, Patrick Duffy, Linda Purl and Gray O’Brien who work seamlessly together to deliver excellent performances which lift the production to another level. The writing punches, the humour is on point and importantly, the pace and movement of the piece is timed so you can keep up with the sleuthing.
Catch Me If You Can is compelling, engaging and genuinely funny. If you’re looking for some real, old-school entertainment in the truest sense of the word, I would urge you to catch it if you can.