The Girl on a Train

The Girl on a Train is a fantastic book that I very much enjoyed reading, so I was very much looking forward to seeing the stage version.

This is Alice Smithson’s first step into directing and she would have been forgiven for taking on a simpler drama, instead she took on a well know text that shifts in time multiple times.  It was not just a brave choice, but it was the right choice, she was the right person for this production she had a vision and she made sure that the vision came alive.

Rachel Watson is the lead character, who was expertly and intelligently played by Richelle Pitt-Chambers.  It was not until the very last scene that I realised how brilliant Rachel’s performance was, in the last scene Rachel is sober looking to the future, throughout the show Richelle how portrayed alcoholism with scary realism at times, but in this last scene you could see Rachel was sober and happier.  This really was a super performance.

Ben Paddon played Tom Watson, the controlling ex-husband of Rachel.  It was the subtlety of the performance by Ben that made Tom scary, always having a hand on Anna his current wife, always seemingly in control of the room when he was in it.  The subtle touches were clever and made the end even more impactful.  Anna Watson was played by Georgia Vary and she made sure that the character was strong and behind her husband Tom, the realisation on her face when she realised what Tom was capable of, was great.

Scott Hipwell, Megan’s husband was played by Tom Beirne.  Full of anger and confusion, the moments he grabbed Megan and Rachel by the throat, was not only realistic, but it was also horrible (for the right reasons) to witness.  His eyes were in the moment and that is what made it even more realistic.  Megan Hipwell was played by Lottie Wardman.  Lottie played Megan with an air of mystery; it was obvious she had secrets, that was clear in her body language.

Ross Edwards played the therapist Kamal Abdic.  Kamal is not as innocent as it seems and he knows more than he is letting on, Ross kept that intrigue alive, throughout his performance.  Sharon Stocken played D.I. Gaskill, she had some of the better one-liners in the show and she made show there was a little light relief in what was a very dramatic production.  I was impressed how at times Sharon was able to say more with her eyes and a look, than most can say with words.

With a minimal set, which was the right choice lighting was even an important component of the show.  Lighting did not just keep the show moving but it become another character, it told the audience when time was changing, or when Rachel was sitting in a train, subtle changes in light meant a character could move in time with a few steps.  It was clear a lot of time had been put into the music being used, every song had meaning.

Alice’s vision was clever, thoughtful, and impactful and it was the right decision to put a warning in the programme about things that may trigger people, as this production did not shy away from very powerful themes. 

Congratulations to Alice and the team, I really enjoyed this production, and from meeting Alice it was clear how much this show meant to her, and quite rightly so.

Thank you to Stevie and the front of house team for their hospitality and I look forward to coming back later in the year.

Scott Welch

District 9

NODA East

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