Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 29th March 2025
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
5*****
Based on the best-selling novel written by Paula Hawkins, this production of The Girl on the Train is a brilliant stage adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel. Live performance adds a ‘dimension of tension’ to a mystery that pulls you in from the very start.
The play centres around solving the mystery of a missing person (Megan) whose life and experiences slowly unfold through the eyes and perspective of her various encounters and relationships. From the outset, confusion and uncertainty are cemented in the mind of the audience through fantastic choreography and stage setting.
Central to the recount of events is Rachel Watson, played by Giovanna Fletcher. Rachel is a troubled alcoholic who is fixated on her ex-husband’s new life. Seemingly, he has secured a ‘perfect’ life and family in the house he once shared with Rachel. Rachel, meanwhile, is recently jobless, facing eviction and battling alcoholism. All of this contributes to a desperate need to fit in and solve the mystery.
We learn that Rachel has been travelling on the train every day under the pretence of going to work. On her journeys, she has observed life her old neighbourhood from the track. The details of what she has observed are crucial to the investigation that ensues after Megan’s disappearance. However, alcohol dependence cast doubt on the reliability of her memories of the period around Megan’s disappearance.
The storyline and performance are themselves gripping but the brilliance of this production is the tension and mystery delivered by Adam Wiltshire’s stage set that creates a ‘dark’ feel and mysterious video footage that integrate brilliantly. In all honesty, the combined effect is so powerful that I wanted it to carry on through without an interval. However, the tension and mystery pick up where they left off after the interval. The tension builds towards the final scene when you can sense that everyone is poised with bated breath and ultimate stunned silence.
If you love a mystery and can stand the tension, make this show a ‘must see’ on your list of performance