Having sold over 23 million copies, Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train has captivated readers globally. This new stage adaptation, following a previous 2019 tour and a limited West End run, promised a gripping psychological thriller but ultimately fell short for this theatregoer.
The story follows Rachel (Giovanna Fletcher), a woman who numbs the pain of her failed marriage not only with alcohol, but by watching a seemingly perfect couple from her train window each day. When the woman she observes suddenly goes missing, Rachel takes it into her own hands to find out what happened, becoming a suspect in the process.
This version leans more towards a traditional ‘whodunnit’ rather than full-on psychological thriller. While that approach can work brilliantly on stage (just ask Agatha Christie), it didn’t quite work here, lacking the intensity I hoped for to fully hold my attention. I found myself longing for those edge-of-your seat moments that never really came. When the final reveal came, it didn’t feel satisfying as you aren’t made to care for any of the characters in this adaptation.
As the protagonist, Rachel lacked any real build in her character development, leading to her portrayal feeling very one note. She comes across angry and one-dimensional, so it is hard to feel much empathy towards her as a character. Whether this was due to the direction, script, or performance is unclear, but it made it difficult to engage with the story fully. Had there been greater emotional highs and lows alongside stronger character development, it could have really been a more interesting watch.
The staging relied on projections rather than traditional sets, which was no bad thing. When executed well, this was a real highlight. Characters seamlessly emerged and vanished through the on-stage screens, which helped inject some interest into the production. The projections helped convey Rachel’s varying levels of paranoia. Unfortunately, this sense of unease was not mirrored as effectively in the performances or direction, leading it to feel like a case of style over substance for this show.
While the story is beloved for its gripping narrative, this adaptation fell short of the high expectations set by the book’s success. Though it didn’t quite resonate with me, there were some audience members who gave it a standing ovation. So, if you are a fan of the book and already have a strong connection with the story, you might just love it too.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a show is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.