Review: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, Upstairs at the Gatehouse

Photo credit: Kevin Ralph

Adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel from the best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins, The Girl on the Train is a thrilling mystery intertwined with difficult relationships, a hidden past and many dangerous secrets.

Katie Ray plays Rachel Watson, an alcoholic divorcee who longs for a different life. Her only escape is watching the ‘perfect couples’ through the train window every day, imagining what could be. Until the woman she has been watching suddenly disappears and Rachel finds herself first a witness and then a suspect in the unfolding mystery.

Ray is a strong lead, a believable drunk trying to remember what happened. She is clearly engaged emotionally with the characters’ experiences and shares her frustration and journey with the audience.

The remaining cast are not quite as engaged, however, and it is sometimes harder to invest in their stories or what they might be hiding. The telling of historical traumas are retold as a ‘matter of fact’ and with little emotion. 

A large proportion of the text deals with domestic abuse, controlling behavior and gaslighting, which is an important and increasingly relevant issue, but these scenes are perhaps not shocking enough for the audience and this makes the big reveal (no spoilers) less believable.

A nice piece but not quite as gripping or shocking enough to substantiate the text.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

The Girl on the Train plays Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 3 July, with tickets available here.