Rebus: A Game Called Malice at Malvern Theatres

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Mon 21 Oct 2024 - Sat 26 Oct 2024

Rebus is everywhere at the moment with a new book out, refreshed on TV and now on stage. But this play is a new murder mystery featuring the hard-nosed Scottish detective created by Ian Rankin and Simon Reade, especially for theatre-goers.

The setting may throw loyal Rebus fans as rather than grim corners of Edinburgh, there's a lavish dining room in a stately home. It's very plush and more like an Agatha Christie country house scene.

That's because this is Rebus does a cosy crime. There's even a touch of Christie's The Mousetrap about it. All the suspects were in one room and plenty of red herrings.

Rebus: A Game Called Malice is on a UK tour and I caught it during its stop off at Malvern Theatres , where it stays for a week until Saturday October 26.



Gray O'Brien, famous for Coronation Street and pictured above with Abigail Thaw, is well cast as Rebus. He's not just got the accent of a fellow Scot but also gives him the right mix of gruff dourness and charm. He's played another popular detective on stage, Roy Grace, so he's got form for this.

The first act spends most of its time focusing on the characters rather than any crime, until a discovery ahead of the interval. There are six guests in the house including Rebus all at a dinner party and trying to solve a murder mystery game the hostess has set. Yet little by little, tensions start to build as the plot steadily bubbles along.

Straight-talking Rebus, now retired, doesn't mince his words and obviously has a grudge against one of the guests, casino owner Jack Fleming. He's crossed his path in the past and is also well known to Rebus' date for the occasion, barrister Stephanie Jeffries (Abigail Thaw who played reporter Dorothea in Endeavour).

Although Jack is normally played by Emmerdale veteran Billy Hartman( who is better known as his soap character Terry Woods), I didn't get to see him as understudy Richard Hodder had to step into the role. He was on excellent form as the slippery character with a girlfriend half his age.



She's called Candida (Jade Kennedy pictured above in a red dress) and a slightly annoying influencer trying to teach Rebus about social media. Although opposites, her ability on a phone helps Rebus move along an investigation without even leaving the room. If he wasn't such a clever detective, it would seem more improbable.

That just leaves the rather posh hosts Harriet (Teresa Banham) and her second husband (Neil McKinven), who are obviously having marriage difficulties.

This is a clever, intriguing mystery from a master crime writer who never stutters, unlike some of the Scottish accents that waiver - although not O'Brien's.

While this Rebus play is a pretty gentle crime tale, with any violence taking place out of view, it's also satisfying and will keep armchair sleuths guessing right to the end. It's another welcome outing with Rebus that Rankin fans will relish.

Rating: 3 and a half out of 5 stars

Rebus: A Game Called Malice continues at Malvern Theatres until Saturday October 26. It is produced by Daniel Schumann, Lee Dean and Cambridge Arts Theatre. Tickets cost from £22.96 at Malvern Theatres website here.

Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes


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