Reviewed by Dee Ryz
The Girl on the Train, adapted from the best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins of the same name, is now on stage at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. Having been a big fan of the book, I had high hopes for the play and wasn’t disappointed – the performance, directed by Anthony Banks, was just as thrilling and enthralling as I would have hoped!
For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows Rachel Watson (Samantha Womack), a divorced, unemployed woman, struggling with the breakdown of her marriage to the harsh-yet-caring ex-husband Tom (Adam Jackson-Smith) and her resentment of his new wife Anna (Lowenna Melrose), so she finds solace in the bottom of a bottle. While aimlessly travelling on the train back and forward to London she often fantasises about the lives of the ‘perfect’ couple she can see from her window (Kirsty Oswald and Oliver Farnworth), dreaming of what could have been. But when Megan (Kirsty Oswald), one half of the couple, goes missing, Rachel becomes obsessed and places herself at the centre of the investigation, along with her memory “full of holes”, to find out the truth, talking to everyone involved in Megan’s life, from her husband to her therapist (Naeem Hayat), leaving no stone unturned.
A raw, gripping performance by the lead, Samantha Womack, supported by a small but impressive cast. The story is told effortlessly, and with the care and attention required to create the tension and intrigue, punctuated with witty one-liners and the odd laugh-out-loud moment.
An outstanding, riveting performance.
The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh is ideally located in the city centre’s Tolcross area. Close to public transport including popular bus routes and Haymarket train station and has free on-street parking after 6.30pm, the area has a variety of bars and restaurants nearby for you to make an evening out of the performance.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £18 to £31.50 (booking fees may apply).
The Girl on the Train is at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh from 25-30 March 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.capitaltheatres.com or call the box office on 0131 529 6000.
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9LQ | 0131 529 6000
