STRANGERS ON A TRAIN
(a show with a great poster)
Here again we descend into the ever flowing sewer of adrenaline buzz. It is done with enormous style, artistry and technique.
The Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name received acclaim and at that time it was comparatively new to take entertainment from sheer nastiness. However the taste for chilling thrilling shocking horrifying harrowing and generally making life feel disgusting, has risen and a plethora of nasties about murder, torture, blackmail and seduction have thrilled millions since those Hitchcock days. Of course historians will come on and talk about the Coliseum the Globe Theatre and many other playhouses which have portrayed similar ugliness. It appears that human animals seem to love bloodletting in all its forms and seem to participate as willingly as you like.
Yes indeed the scenes change very fast. They taste and technique of the technicians imposes cinematic treats in black-and-white to remind people that these scenes took place in the past.
There is little doubt how popular this stuff is and it filters down to children who like dressing up in ugly alarming looking costumes to go and blackmail people at the door door for sweets – Just because all the other kiddies are doing the same and the parents seem to encourage the little dears.
Far be it from me to put you off going and seeing this play and the accompanying "cinema noir". The music, frequently referred to as 'sound' or 'sound design'. according to Michael Billington of the Guardian, "deliberately echoes the nerve jangling scores that Bernard Herrmann wrote for Hitchcock".
STORY
Two men meet in a train and each of them discusses their story. As one does. It appears their conversation drifts from the normal string of complaints complaint to both of them wanting someone dead in other words – murder – so both of them have a drink and get on with such discussion of a perfect double murder. What transpires from there is where the unpleasantness starts to set in. Here's where the thrills start. (The Telegraph describes it as a thriller that is "unsettling and at the same time seductive"). All the other details – and the ladies of course – must be left unspoiled to seduce the theatre goer and get the adrenaline juices flowing.
But there is always a message in there somewhere if you look hard enough. Perhaps it's to inform ladies that if they behave obnoxiously often enough someone might wish them dead. Of course the same thing goes for men but historically, they are more difficult to kill off a battlefield than women.
The box office knows what they're doing. They wouldn't have put it on if they hadn't been assured that the demand for nastiness is on the increase and they're all ready to fulfil it with fancy footwork in the theatre.
You can book for your dose of thrills, accelerating heart beats and all that gripping stuff. And book good seats to grip because good seats are important when you're scared.
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