Scottish crime novelist Ian Rankin’s hero Inspector Rebus makes his second stage appearance in this original play, co-written with Simon Reade.
A classic one-set whodunnit, it is played out in real time at a dinner party in a large Edinburgh house where the guests include retired Inspector Rebus (Gray O’Brien) accompanied by his ‘friend without benefits’, lawyer Stephanie (Abigail Thaw).
Drink is taken and relationships start to unravel – particularly between husband and wife Harriet (Teresa Banham) and Paul (Neil McKinven).
Harriet’s art collection takes centre stage while wealthy-but-dodgy businessman Billy (Jack Fleming) dominates the conversation along with his Instagramming mistress Jade (Candida Jones).
An unseen character hired as the chef goes missing until his bloody corpse is discovered in a bathroom upstairs.
Rankin teases out past relationships and incidents to build a picture of thwarted dreams, jealousy and blackmail, sending red herrings swimming across the stage in shoals.
It’s skillfully done and superbly played with just the right amount of waspish humour to offset the lack of action.
Like an Agatha Christie play with elements of Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, it is a mischievous and satisfying twist on the traditional country house mystery.
Rebus: A Game Called Malice by Ian Rankin and Simon Reade is on UK tour until Nov 30.
