If you’re a fan of Ian Rankin’s Rebus books, or indeed the various TV translations, you’re going to love the play at the New Theatre Cardiff this week. I will say however, if you’ve not read any of the books then REBUS: A GAME CALLED MALICE will also be a really great watch. I’m ashamed to say I fall into the latter group but after watching Rebus on stage my library is about to expand considerably over the next few weeks.
In some ways the play is a typical murder/mystery whodunit affair, but with the ‘grumpy‘ Rebus at the helm, and a great plot, filled with twists, turns and a lot of humour, this feels, and indeed is very different.
I will say this, if you’re planning to go along this week, keep your wits about you and remember the things which may seem inconsequential probably aren’t.
Rebus (GRAY O’BRIEN) has been around for a long while now, 1987 in fact and for those who’ve followed his career through Ian’s books will know he’s now retired from the force.
The play is set at a splendid dinner party in an Edinburgh mansion where the hostess, Harriet Godwin (TERESA BANHAM) is holding a murder mystery game aoing with husband Paul (NEIL MCKINVEN). As the evening goes on we learn more about the guests, who each have their own secrets which start to unravel as a body is discovered upstairs just before the interval.
As we come back for part two the story ramps up a notch as Rebus begins to piece together the clues and ‘reads the room‘ as he says. It’s not always what people say but the manner in which they say it. And I will say no more at this point for fear of giving too much away.
There’s a couple of times when Rebus steps away from the action to explain this to us in the audience, it’s unusual for a play like this to break the fourth wall, but I felt it worked well here.
As I mentioned, Rebus is new to me but I felt Gray was a good fit in the role. Rebus appears a little naive to the modern world but as time goes on you wonder if that is to allow the other characters to feel like they have the upper hand. John is definitely no expert when it comes to the online world and it’s here he taps into the talents of Candida (JADE KENNEDY) a guest who is a social media influencer. Rebus uses her skills for some much need internet research.
Candida is the ‘partner‘ of local casino own Jack Fleming (BILLY HARTMAN) and along with lawyer Stepanie Jeffries (ABIGAIL THAW), who has dragged Rebus along as her plus one, you feel there is history between these characters, which becomes more relevant as time goes on.
As I mentioned at the beginning you need to pay attention to what is said, as it does relate to what happens later in the story. The set is crucial to this too, and I’ve got to say, it is one of the most impressive sets I’ve seen for a while. When you enter the auditorium you have this massive dining room filled with exquisite Georgian furniture and walls covered in priceless paintings. Kudos to TERRY PARSON for the job he’s done on creating this magnificent set.
Although the play is has death at its heart it’s actually the tensions in the room which bring the most mystery as relationships unravel and tensions rise.
REBUS: A GAME CALLED MALICE is at the New Theatre in Cardiff through to Saturday 12th October. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets range from £24 to £44, for more details and to get yours, go HERE.
You can also watch our interview with Gray and Billy HERE.
