WISH YOU WERE DEAD at The ORCHARD THEATRE, DARTFORD
Step into the eerie world of Wish You Were Dead, a
theatrical adaptation of Peter James' novel, brought to life by adaptor Shaun
McKenna and director Jonathan O’Boyle. With a highly watchable cast led by
George Rainsford as the ever-anxious Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, Katie
McGlynn as Cleo, his loving wife, and Clive Mantle as the enigmatic and villainous
Curtis, this play promises a suspenseful journey through a gothic mansion
filled with dark secrets and nail-biting moments. However, while the set design
and sound create an immersive atmosphere, and the actors deliver enjoyable
performances, the story unfortunately struggles to fully captivate and reward
the audience.
Joining Roy and Cleo, their son, Noah, and their nanny, Kaitlynn,
on their ill-fated holiday, we find ourselves trapped within the walls of a
foreboding French chateau where isolation reigns supreme – there isn’t even any
wifi. In this secluded retreat, tension thickens, and danger lurks at every
corner, throwing our protagonists into a perilous situation. Or at least, it
almost does.
Michael Holt’s set design for Wish You Were Dead is a love letter to Gothic
architecture, evoking a palpable sense of dread. The stairs whispered secrets,
unseen bedrooms teased our imagination, and a suit of armour added a spooky touch.
It created an immersive, chilling atmosphere that intensified the narrative. One
especially clever moment that elicited a gasp from the audience was when a
hidden room suddenly became visible, and parts of the plot quickly fell into place.
Unfortunately,
although these elements certainly did help to create a tense feeling, the edge
of the seat the audience found themselves on turned out to be more of a slight
incline than a thrilling plunge into the unknown. The story stumbled at times, desperately
in need of a clever twist to unlock its full potential. The comedy moments,
intended or not, broke the tension, meaning that the actors had to put in significant
effort to build it back up again, and this sporadic release of suspense
diminished the full impact of the gothic thriller atmosphere. The play would
have benefited from a tighter grip on maintaining a consistently suspenseful
tone, allowing the audience to remain engaged without unnecessary detours.
However,
credit must be given to the actors for their performances, injecting moments of
fun and enjoyment into the play. George Rainsford masterfully embodied the
perpetually concerned Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, capturing his
restlessness and internal turmoil with precision. Katie McGlynn impressed as
Cleo, portraying her character's resilience and determination in the face of
mounting danger. Clive Mantle brought an air of mystery and intrigue to the
role of Curtis, so that even if the audience had worked everything out well
before the end, it was still a fun journey to get there. Rebecca McKinnis gave
perhaps the strongest performance of the night, playing Madame L’Eveque (and
another character who, for fear of spoilers, I won’t mention). Her deliberately
fake French accent was a joy, and her grumpy, put-upon demeanour raised a good
few laughs.
Wish You Were Dead is a fun night at the theatre, and it offers
a tantalising premise, boasting exceptional set design, atmospheric sound (by
Max Pappenheim), and commendable performances. However, its narrative fails to
deliver a truly satisfying resolution, leaving the audience wanting more.
What did I learn from my night out at the theatre? If Wish You Were Dead taught me anything, it's that family holidays can be a real killer.
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