Cast

Synopsis

“A tale of blackmail, obsession, fear and guilt; a superb thriller with psychological depth.”

Two strangers, ambitious architect Guy Haines, whose wife has been unfaithful, and charming but spoilt heir, Charles Bruno, who hates his father, meet on a train.

Over some whisky, Bruno suggests that they should ‘exchange murders’, providing each other with a perfect alibi. Guy drunkenly agrees, believing Bruno’s suggestion to be idle banter. However, Guy’s wife is soon found
strangled and Bruno inveigles his way into Haines’ life, expecting him to fulfil his part of the murderous plan.

Directors Notes

Crime fascinates many of us, our favourite tv series and films are usually thrillers, murders, or bank robberies. It was no different back in Hollywood’s heyday, the 40s and 50s. Then we had film producers
like Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles and, of course, Alfred Hitchcock, with Psycho, The Birds, The Man Who knew Too Much and, of course, his masterpiece Strangers on A Train.

Hitchcock’s 1950s psychological crime thriller was based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name.
Now that creepy tale has been transformed for the stage, making its London debut at the Gielgud Theatre in November 2013, starring Lawrence Fox and Imogen Stubbs. We are delighted to bring that wonderful play here to BLT for you tonight.

Like the novel and the Hollywood blockbuster, Craig Warner’s stage adaptation of Strangers on a Train follows the unlikely encounter between Guy Haines and Bruno Anthony, who meet on a train to New York City. Guy, a budding architect, is looking to divorce his unfaithful wife, Miriam, so he can marry the object of his affection, Anne. As he is mulling this over on his journey to the Big Apple, he meets a talkative stranger named Bruno. The ‘strangers’ talk over lunch with Bruno claiming to understand Guy’s marital problems, suggesting he has the perfect solution. However, this solution will change one of the strangers lives forever, one mistake they will live to regret – to commit the perfect crime. It’s a tense, psychological thriller that will keep you
guessing and on the edge of your seat until its nail-biting finale. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have loved staging it for you.

I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this production come to fruition. Our fantastic set building team, our amazing ladies in the wardrobe and property teams. All those unsung heroes who kept the tea and coffee flowing and those who kept me calm. And of course, the guys up in the little box at the back with their great ideas and imagination. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.