REVIEW: The Girl on the Train at Wyvern Theatre

Based on the book that became a film and is now having its time on the stage, The Girl on the Train is a thriller which follows Rachel Watson, played by Samantha Womack, who is caught in an unhealthy cycle riding the train in the hope of catching a glimpse of her past life. We were lucky enough to be invited to Wyvern Theatre last night (7th October) for the opening night! Here’s what we thought…

Showing at Wyvern Theatre daily until Saturday 12th October, the adaptation from Paula Hawkins’ international phenomenon novel had us captivated from the get-go and on the edge of our seats throughout.

If you are unfamiliar with the story line, the focus is Rachel; a middle-aged woman unsatisfied with her job and suffering after a breakup, who finds consolation imagining the lives of a couple she sees each day from the window of her train commute. But when the woman she’s been watching disappears, Rachel wonders if she could be the key to finding her.

The play was full of drama and passion, with each member of the cast giving a remarkable performance from start to finish and fantastic sets that really bring each scene to life.

Playing the role of a barely-functioning, blackout-prone alcoholic Rachel can’t have been an easy task, but Samantha Womack masters this and her ability to control the stage in such emotional situations is a credit to her acting abilities.

Her damaged relationship with her former husband Tom Watson is portrayed strongly in each scene, and as the audience we can feel the pain she is enduring as his life with his new partner becomes what she always envisioned for herself.

While an enticing and dark story that was difficult to watch during some scenes, there was still some comical moments that had the crowd laughing and made it all the more enjoyable. Full of twists and turns throughout the gripping melodramatic mystery kept us guessing until the final moment. The reveal of whodunit filled the room with complete suspense and shock.

Every member of the cast and crew executed their roles to the highest standard and this is certainly a exceedingly enjoyable performance. So grab your tickets now for the remaining dates! Click here to book.

Photos by Manuel Harlan