The Girl on the Train

Centenary Theatre Company returned to the Brindley Studio for their performance of ‘The Girl on the Train’, directed by Clare Littlemore. Based on the bestselling novel by Paula Hawkins and the DreamWorks film starring Emily Blunt, this psychological thriller is an ambitious production for any amateur group to stage. Clare’s direction was secure, with good blocking and movement. There were a number of physical assault scenes, which were handled well by the cast and looked very realistic. Credit to Ceris Shadwell for her work with the stage combat. The choreography of the train journeys was simple, but very effective, which was executed well by the cast. The overall vocal clarity from the cast was very good throughout. Diction and projection were exemplary from every single member of the cast. As well as their individual characters, the cast were also involved throughout in non-speaking roles, from commuters on the train to forensic officers. This added to the realness of the production, which was appreciated. The staging of the production was strong, with the stage being split into three playing areas. There was a sofa situated stage right, which was used to represent Rachel’s flat, and Tom and Anna’s house. There was a very good kitchen set stage left, representing the Hipwell household. There was a raised platform upstage, which was used to stage the flashbacks, Karl’s office and the underpass. Other pieces of furniture were brought on to denote the different locations. Costumes were modern dress, and suited each character.

Technical aspects were well integrated into this production. There were many sound effects, which were well sourced and cued on time. The effects helped to establish location, especially when on the train. The lighting was good throughout, used to create atmosphere and pull the audience’s attention. The different playing areas were lit well.

Clare Grimes took on the mammoth role of Rachel Watson. It could be said that the success of this play relies on the performance of Rachel, and we were certainly in safe hands with Clare. This is a complex character, as Rachel finds herself at the centre of a missing person case, trying to figure out what actually happened. Clare was on stage for the whole play and commanded the space, conveying a range of emotions. She was always in the moment, even when in the background, never letting her character slip. This was a polished performance from Clare.

Jo Lee played Megan Hipwell. Appearing through flashbacks, the audience found out about the character at the same time as Rachel. Jo’s performance was compelling to watch throughout, with an emotionally delivered monologue in the second act. The audience could see and feel the emotion coming from Jo. The staging of this moment was beautiful, with your eyes being drawn to Jo.

Maria Ames played Anna Watson, the new wife of Rachel’s ex-husband. This was a convincing performance from Maria, showing her disdain for Rachel from the outset. The confrontation near the conclusion of the play with Jake as Tom was well played, with Maria conveying how frightened Anna was.

Jake Liken portrayed Rachel’s ex-husband, Tom Watson. Jake delivered a charming character initially, which made the revelation at the conclusion of the play that more impactful. His work with Clare in the second act was very good, as he began to show his true colours.

Matt Corrigan impressed as Scott Hipwell. This was a convincing performance from Matt. Similar to the other male characters, all is not as appears with Scott, which the audience discovers during the play. The assault scenes were well played by Matt, showing an intimidating character.

Phil Dean took on the role of therapist, Karl Anderson. This was a secure performance from Phil, creating a believable character. He worked well with both Clare and Jo.

Bryan Higgins portrayed Detective Gaskill. This was a good performance from Bryan. There was a good bond created with Clare’s Rachel as he became that steadfast figure in Rachel’s life. You could sense his frustrations in the interactions as Rachel became more involved with the investigation.

Overall, this was a very good production. There were some strong performances, considered direction, and well thought through staging.

A big thank you to everyone at Centenary Theatre Company for their kind invite and hospitality. All the best for your next production, ‘The Little Mermaid’.

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