★★★★

Reviewer - Natasha

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

Based on his own experience of a holiday setting gone wrong, this exclusive stage adaptation of Peter James’ novella Wish You Were Dead contains all the ingredients for a good night out at the theatre and I found it extremely compelling. The audience is initially drawn in by the dramatic set - definitely more haunted house than French château - before tensions begin and build in a pacy Act One. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and his pathologist wife Cleo are not only faced with a mystery to solve, but are drawn into a life-threatening encounter. Not so much a whodunnit as a gradual unravelling of layers (with a couple of twists and turns thrown in for good measure) the sardonic, witty script delivers a cosy domestic drama, a gothic murder mystery and an entertaining farce, all in one. Although I had never read or seen a Roy Grace story prior to this, I found the characters instantly engaging, well-written and superbly acted. I can clearly see why this is “the most successful modern-day crime stage franchise since Agatha Christie”!

Although fairly comfortable and undemanding as crime dramas go, the talented cast have a ball with the romp of a plot, its pithy dialogue and occasional, well-placed theatrical camp. The staging is wonderfully done, with a secret room hidden behind a gauze, and both upstairs and downstairs areas of the strange castle simultaneously visible. The music is well-chosen -a pre-show Piaf soundtrack helps transport us to France, with Berlioz used to tremendous dramatic effect in the play itself. Running to just two hours including an interval, the action (directed by Jonathan O’Boyle) rarely lets up and the audience is constantly fascinated with what exactly is going to happen next.

The three lead actors Giovanna Fletcher (as Cleo), Clive Mantle (as Curtis) and George Rainsford (as Roy Grace) are extremely familiar faces from stage/screen and television. They all slotted perfectly into their roles, however, making them their own and ensuring that although they may have been known for other things prior to these roles, this would soon be forgotten as the play progressed. Special mention must also go to Rebecca McKinnis (who recently starred as Heidi Hansen in the Original West End Production of the musical Dear Evan Hansen) as Madame L’Eveque, who absolutely owned the stage in a remarkable performance.

As personal preference goes, I wanted to be frightened a little more, and would have appreciated a longer Act One with increased tension, and less of Act Two’s back and forth once the denouément had taken place. Minor roles could perhaps have been expanded, and the weapon choreography would benefit from some refinement. Finally, I thought it was a shame that the ‘baddies’ got all the best comic lines!

Overall, however, Wish You Were Dead is a thoroughly enjoyable crime thriller which provides escapism from daily life and doesn’t fail to entertain. As with previous stage adaptations of Peter James’ work and the more recent major ITV drama adaptation, Grace, this production is destined to be both a critical and commercial success. It works well as both a standalone piece and for existing fans of Roy Grace, and, for this reviewer, has ensured that this is going to be the next crime thriller series that I read!

Wish You Were Dead continues at Nottingham Theatre Royal until 4 March and is then on tour until the end of July calling next at Cambridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, Brighton, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Click here to book tickets online and see all other venues.