Strangers On A Train - review

After a few lovely days in Newcastle visiting home, I went to see the new play on Shaftesbury Avenue - Strangers on a Train. It had a good cast with Lawrence fox (Lewis) and Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) taking the leads. I also thought Christian McKay was excellent. I got Cheapo lastminute.com tickets for £11 - you can't really complain to see live theatre for less than a cinema ticket.

The play is a theatre version of Hitchcock's famous version of the 1950 thriller novel. A monochrome set and costumes reflecting the film was an brilliant idea, there was only small glimpses of colour with a red headed girl and some lighting. Projections were laid over the stage and side panels to help set atmosphere of a Autumns day to being on a train with the landscape panning by. and of course like most productions I see these days, the sets and they were a lot of them, were on a turning carousel. At one point it literally was a carousel with fairground horses and everything!

The ladies gowns were beautiful and some v.smart suits. Sadly the feast for the eyes was let down in the story telling, the play was a bit slow in paces and lost the pace of being a 'thriller'. The audience were starting to shuffle about in some places. I wanted the pace to match the dramatic music from the film used between scenes. Being a creative soul, I was kept amused in focusing my attention to the sets than the slow script.

Overall I enjoyed my evening, always do at the theatre - you just can't beat the West End. Later this week, I have tickets for the ballet at the Royal Opera House, more cheap tickets but SO excited. I've been to see Wayne McGregor's pieces before and they were mind blowingly good.