It was opening night for The Girl On The Train at Belfast’s Grand Opera House last night – adapted from Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel, which has sold over twenty million copies worldwide, this stage version delivers a tense and twisting story that keeps its audience engaged until the very end.
The story follows Rachel Watson, a woman yearning for a life far removed from her own. Her daily train journey offers a fleeting escape as she watches a couple in what appears to be a picture-perfect relationship. But when the woman she’s been observing suddenly goes missing, Rachel is drawn into the mystery – not just as a witness, but as a potential suspect. As the investigation unfolds, she’s confronted with truths far more unsettling than she could have imagined.
Laura Whitmore delivers a strong performance as Rachel, skilfully skirting the line between a trustworthy narrator and a potentially unreliable witness. Portraying the character’s struggles with alcoholism with convincing realism Whitmore also brings a fragility to the role that is successfully shed towards the latter half of the show. Freya Parks plays missing woman Megan with just the right level of restlessness and edge, while Paul McEwan was a standout as D.I. Gaskill the gruff detective.
The staging is pared-back but inventive. The set is largely a bare black stage, punctuated only by a drinks cart or messy bed in certain scenes. A screen at the rear doubles as a window, its changing views subtly shifting the atmosphere, while three sheer screens allow the effect of raindrops to fall – a simple but effective touch that draws you further into Rachel’s world. Lighting projected on the floor makes the stage look like train tracks, an effect which is maybe difficult to see when sitting in the stalls.
All in all The Girl On The Train translates to the stage far better than I would have ever thought. The pacing is great, building tension throughout and the script is realistic and witty, providing moments of brevity when needed. If psychological thrillers are your thing then you should definitely check out The Girl On The Train before it leaves the station!
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