Wish You Were Dead Review

But be warned this adaptation lacks much of what one expects from a brilliant crime writer such as James – the truth is it just hasn’t made a successful transition from page to stage.

The stage play adaptation is shallow and lacks substance – this is certainly not a suspenseful thriller. There are no shocks, twists or surprises – everything is very predictable and lacks a touch of the dark side.

Based on the author’s own experience of a ‘chambre d’hote’, where visitors stay as guests of the owners, Grace, his wife Cleo, baby and nanny Kaitlynn arrive very late at a spooky dark chateau in rural France during a heavy thunderstorm created by over the top sound effects and lighting.

Arriving ‘bone dry’, despite the heavy rain, they are shocked and surprised to find everything from the place itself to the dubious owners is not what it seems.

The first act is long and laborious and spends far too much time on introducing the story and setting the mood – although with Michael Holt’s brilliantly designed set, littered with all things ‘haunted house’ and loud knocking from upstairs it’s easy to guess the mood.

Wish You Were Dead has some overtly stereotyped characterizations especially in the East End Gangster department, who seem to be playing it for laughs at times destroying their credibility, and tensions that are being built.

Driving the show is Rebecca McKinnis as Madame L’Eveque who gives an outstanding performance expertly changing from one persona to another with absolute perfection and impeccable accents. George Rainsford’s Roy Grace is believable and is the glue that holds it all together whilst former Corrie star Katie McGlynn as Cleo made a valiant attempt in her first stage role but unfortunately, at times, lacked projection and her dialogue was lost.

Completing the stellar cast were Clive Mantle (Curtis) Gemma Stroyyan (Kaitlynn), Leon Steward (Glenn), Alex Stedman (Jack), Callum-Sheridan-Lee (Brent).

Wish You Were Dead won’t have you on the edge of your seat or feeling a little terror struck but you might be tempted to buy the novel to enjoy it in its original form.

To May 6. At Sheffield Lyceum, June 27-July 1.