Review: Ian Rankin's Rebus - A Game Called Malice (play)
- Lisa in the theatre
- Sep 24, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Rebus: A Game Called Malice ★★★☆☆
By Ian Rankin and Simon Reade | Directed by Loveday Ingram
review: Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow | 23 September 2024
When recently retired Detective Inspector John Rebus (Gray O'Brien) is invited to a dinner party on Edinburgh's plush Heriot Row, he finds himself part of a murder mystery game created by the wealthy hostess. But when an actual dead body is discovered in the house, Rebus turns his attentions and suspicions to his fellow guests.
Rebus: A Game Called Malice is a single-room play set in the opulent dining room of a home on one of the most prestigious streets in Edinburgh. It's a far cry from the dark underworld of Edinburgh that the legendary detective haunts in Ian Rankin's much-loved Rebus novels and TV series. The set is beautifully detailed and well lit; but with the dinner party setting, parlour games and posh characters, this feels more like an Agatha Christie than a Rebus story.
The writing, as expected from Ian Rankin, is clever and funny, and the script is deftly performed by a cast of top-quality actors. Gray O'Brien does a fine job with the iconic character of John Rebus. He's charismatic and convincing, and could easily carry the role forward in future Rebus stories. But O'Brien doesn't have a whole lot to do in 'A Game Called Malice.' Oddly Rebus is not that well developed here. There's little to hint at the flawed, rule-breaking maverick we know from the books.
'A Game Called Malice' leans more towards the 'cosy-crime' genre than the hard-hitting Rebus stories I'm familiar with. There's no real jeopardy or edge-of-the-seat drama; there's nothing too dark or unsettling on display.
It is however a well staged, ably performed, gentle murder mystery with plenty of twists, turns and revelations. (It's important to pay attention in act one because some of the throw away comments made by the dinner party patrons become important later on!) The story is intriguing enough to hold the attention of the entire theatre, and the "whodunnit" keeps the audience guessing until the very end.
There's not really enough 'John Rebus' here to warrant the play's title; This could be any ex-detective at a dinner party gone-wrong. But it is an enjoyable, jolly take on the murder-mystery genre and well worth your time. ★★★☆☆
Ian Rankin's Rebus: A Game Called Malice plays Glasgow Pavilion Theatre until Friday 27 September and then continues on tour.
There will be a post-show Q&A with Ian Rankin after the show at the Pavilion on Tuesday 24 September!
📸 Find Lisa in the Theatre on Instagram
Rebus: A Game Called Malice Cast
Gray O’Brien John Rebus
Abigail Thaw Stephanie Jeffries
Billy Hartman Jack Fleming
Jade Kennedy Candida Jones
Teresa Banham Harriet Goodwin
Neil McKinven Paul
Comments