CRIME novelist Peter James enjoys a huge following both for his books and for his stage plays and TV series.
His main protagonist, the much-loved sleuth Det Insp Roy Grace trod the boards again last night when Shaun McKenna’s stage adaption tour of James’ thrilling ‘Picture You Dead’ reached the main stage at Malvern Theatres.
This play isn’t a ‘Whodunit’ in the traditional sense, but more of a ‘Who’s got it’ as we follow the plot of newlyweds Harry and Freya Kipling’s £20 car boot painting purchase into the murky world of deep art fakes and private collectors. Ben Cutler and Fiona Wade make an effervescent couple as the Kiplings and give off feel good vibes from the get-go.
Peter Ash is as charismatic as he is believable as roguish fraudster turned nearly respectable artist Dave Hegarty. Jodie Steele brings more than a touch of the Killing Eve’s to amoral bad girl Roberta Kilgore and Nicholas Maude gives Elon Musk a run for his money as narcissistic megalomaniac billionaire art hoarder Stuart Piper.
Jonathan O’Boyle directs a star-studded company in a seamless production which gives exactly what an audience wants in a good stage thriller – shocks, giggles and enough clues to get you guessing the answers before the intrepid Grace solves all – well, not quite all….
Adrian Linford’s set is a very clever use of space which shifts the action from the Kipling’s small new home to Dave Hegarty’s art studio and on to Stuart Piper’s mansion with its hidden vault with no hesitation or deviation along the way. I was particularly taken with the promenade area along the front of the stage where Grace, (a sophisticated George Rainsford) and his side kick Det Con Bella Moy (an eager-beaver Gemma Stroyan) discuss their ponderings and make plans with us eavesdropping in on their private conversations.
Jason Taylor’s lighting captures the mood and the moment and there is a haunting soundtrack from Max Pappenheim to underscore the action.
‘Picture You Dead’ is an excellent night out with never a dull moment – made a very pleasant change from all the classics and musicals I’ve been reviewing recently. I didn’t hear a grumble as the audience exited but quite a few “I never saw that coming” and “wasn’t she good?!”
High energy and highly entertaining theatre.
Picture You Dead runs at Malvern Theatres until Saturday, March 29. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
