Theatre & Dance

It's a meeting of chance: Guy Haines (James Odenbreit) searches out an empty seat on the train and settles down to read his book when Charles Bruno (Bob Carter) wanders into the carriage, clutching his hip flask of whisky.

Guy is reluctant to talk, pre-occupied with thoughts of his impending divorce with his unfaithful wife. But Charles persists and guesses the nature of his troubles, and draws parallels with his situation with his father.

As he downs more whisky, he proposes a plan: he'll kill Guy's wife, if Guy kills his father. Thinking Charles is drunk and crazy, Guy toasts his imagination, never knowing that it's a decision that will change his life forever.

As we meet Guy's newly intended, Anne Faulkner (Patricia Duarte), the phone rings with the news that his wife has been murdered.

Charles Bruno is chilling as he slowly begins to gnaw away at Guy's sanity, torturing him with endless letters and phone calls, planting doubts in the minds of those around him in his quest to finish the plan and have his father killed.

As Guy realises the inevitability of the future he descends into torment and despair, sobbing uncontrollably as he feels his revolver. The ever-present psychotic Charles is there to calmly stroke his back, as a mother would a distressed child.

Bob Carter and James Odenbreit

The strength of the Sewell Barn's production of Strangers On A Train is in the performances of Bob Carter and James Odenbreit.

Guy's distress and growing insanity are both powerful and compelling. Bob Carter is excellent as Charles: on one hand sinister and calculated, on the other desperately wanting to be loved by his mother and, when she rejects him, by Guy.

Patricia Duarte also gives a praiseworthy performance as Anne Faulkner.

Strangers On A Train, directed by Ayshea Christian, is a superb and gripping production by the Sewell Barn. Don't miss it.

Strangers On A Train runs at the Sewell Barn Theatre from Wednesday, 17 to Saturday, 20 October, 2007. For more information call 01603 697248.