REVIEW: Not Dead Enough, Mayflower Theatre

By Hilary Porter

AS a big fan of Peter James’ books I was greatly looking forward to seeing the latest adaptation of his Roy Grace crime thriller series live on stage at the Mayflower.

Not Dead Enough follows in the footsteps and stage success of Dead Simple which was successfully transported to the stage two years ago in Southampton by the same director Ian Talbot.

My review of that show called it a "spine-tingling " adaptation and a "claustrophobically thrilling and pulse-racing drama" that was "brilliant" and "unmissable".

Sadly I cannot write about this production in the same glowing terms.

One problem with adapting such well loved literature for a theatre audience is readers build up their own vivid picture of how a character should look and behave. What’s more, after reading several books from the series I have a strong sense of how the drama and tension normally mounts and escalates so that you are almost fearful to read ahead yet are compelled to keep reading.

Joshua McKenna’s adaptation doesn't capture the tone and atmosphere of the original novel and the tension, drama and suspense was lost. Much as I am a fan of Shane Richie's work, I don't believe he was well cast in the role of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace either. TV presenter Laura Whitmore, however, making her professional stage debut as his love interest, mortician Cleo Morey, captured the character completely.

The drama focusses on the intriguing Brian Bishop. On the night he murdered his wife, he was sixty miles away, asleep in bed. At least that’s what he claims. But as Grace continues to deal with the mysterious disappearance of his own wife, he starts to dig a little deeper into the chilling murder case and it soon becomes clear that love can be a dangerous thing.

From the opening scene of this play where there is much laughing, joking, kissing and drinking of tea in the mortuary, the point is made that this is just normal every day working life – be it cutting up dead bodies, but injecting comedy at random moments through the play didn’t sit well.

Shane Richie played Roy Grace more like Inspector Jack Frost crossed with Shane Richie, with far too many comedy lines so I never truly believed in the character.

Stephen Billington did a fine job as murder suspect Brian Bishop with all the complexities of that multi-faceted role.

He captures the mysterious, untrustworthy character and the nervousness and frustration as he maintains his innocence as well as the flip side too.

The split staging meant the drama could easily switch between just two scenes – the mortuary and the police station/interview room or have events unfolding alongside each other at the same time. It meant scenes in the book sometimes changed location but it actually worked well, particularly as we moved towards the final climax.

The production focuses deeply on the act of investigation and some of the scenes in the mortuary are unnerving and successfully examine the human psyche as well as the dead carcases left behind.

Although I did ultimately enjoy this play it did not live up to the brilliance of the original written words.

Others who have not read the book may see it quite differently.

Not Dead Enough runs at Mayflower Theatre until Saturday March 11. Tickets tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.