The Girl On The Train.
Sharnbrook Mill Theatre
28th September 2024

‘The Girl On The Train’ was one of the biggest-selling novels of 2015, and caught the public’s attention like wildfire. Selling over 20 million copies in 18 months, the psychological thriller was far more than just another whodunnit, exploring the heavy themes of mental health, depression, grief and alcoholism as well as catching the killer. The story was remade for the big screen in 2016, which inexplicably relocated the location from the UK to the US, and still cast British actress Emily Blunt to play its lead as British, all of which remains a bigger mystery than the story itself. But it remains a gripping story, ripe for stage adaptation, and it’s the latest choice for the Sharnbrook Mill Theatre team, located in North Bedfordshire.

After losing her job and her marriage due to her dependence on alcohol, Rachel Watson (played by Charlotte Pearson) is dealing with depression while her ex-husband Tom (Gordon Ritchie) has remarried the woman he cheated on Rachel with, Anna (played at the reviewed performance by Creative Director Davina Beegoo-Price). Tom and Anna have a child, something Rachel could never give Tom, and she still battles with the guilt, regularly drinking and blacking out. She continues to take the train to London each day, both to keep up the pretence of working and to fill her time. The train stops at the same signal every day, and Rachel becomes fixated with the lives of the couple who live there, Megan Hipwell (Emily Dignan) and her husband Scott (Josh Broomhead), believing their life to be idyllic and projecting a blissful romanticism on them. When Rachel sees Megan in an intimate embrace with a man who isn’t Scott, and then is reported as missing shortly afterwards, Rachel begins to try to piece together what might have happened, and how she herself may have been involved as the memories resurface.

Paula Hawkins’ novel tells the story from three first-person perspectives, detailing their every thought, impulse and inner struggle, as well as using time-jumps to go back to past events, all of which is always going to be tricky to capture and deliver on stage. Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel’s adaptation does a pretty good job, certainly catching the key events of Hawkins’ narrative and character motivations, though it does feel like we don’t quite get into their heads in quite the same way. That said, the plot remains utterly gripping (even if you know what happens), and the way it delves into the psychological trauma of its female protagonists makes it feel so much more of a rewarding experience than a by-the-numbers murder mystery. You really feel for Rachel’s struggle as she tries to unblock her memories while battling the demon of alcoholism, and the study of male aggression, toxic masculinity and their coercion of women is skilfully explored. Great care has been taken to deliver the show’s powerful themes, with the cast benefiting from the help of a fight choreographer and a wellbeing advisor, the support of both meaning the show can really dig into its themes and deliver them safely but powerfully.

The Sharnbook Mill Theatre team always go above and beyond in their productions, dreaming big and delivering boldly despite the intimate space, and ‘The Girl On The Train’ is another winner for them. Co-directed by Davina Beegoo-Price and Michsel Horne, the play feels suitably cinematic, quick-paced, and uses the space inventively. Sharnbrook Mill Theatre shouldn’t feel able to deliver two home settings, a train carriage and a terrace, but it does, and it all works brilliantly. Michael Horne also oversees the show’s technical aspects, all of which really add to the experience, with some fantastic projections of trains passing at speed, along with clever use of sound (Mark Luckin) and lighting (Flic Jones & Dave Jones). The play also features some haunting underscoring (original music composed by Leigh Smith) which heightens the viewing experience even further.

Charlotte Pearson puts in an astonishing performance as Rachel Watson, taking a complex character and giving her layers and real humanity. Rarely off the stage, it’s a huge role to pull off, but Pearson does it exceptionally, even bettering some professional actors who’ve played the role previously. Emily Dignan also does fantastic work as Megan Hipwell, particularly haunting in her powerful expositional reveal in the second act where she’s nothing short of incredible. Sharnbook regular Josh Broomhead also does well as Scott, as does Gordon Ritchie as Tom, both able to play the nice guys and then the darker shades underneath.

A murder mystery elevated by the themes it explores and the questions it asks, ‘The Girl On The Train’ is just as absorbing on-stage as it is on the page, and despite not quite the same level of character exploration, it’s still powerful stuff. Sharnbrook Mill Theatre have delivered the visuals, captured the grit and heartache, and assembled a fantastic cast to tell Hawkins’ story. The run was sold out, and deservedly so.

‘The Girl On The Train’ ran at the Sharnbrook Mill Theatre from 24th to 28th September 2024.
Performance runtime 2 hours 30 minutes including interval.