A lighter shade of grace: this stage adaptation swaps weight for whimsy in this fast-paced art world caper.
Fans of Peter James’ gritty-ish detective novels or the moody ITV adaptation starring John Simm may find the theatrical version of Picture You Dead a surprising shift in tone. This stage adaptation, which runs at the Lyceum until June 7, is a far breezier and more caricatured affair – a theatrical whodunnit with a Shakespearean-style mistaken identity plot, only here the object of confusion is a rare stolen artwork, not a long-lost twin.
We start proceedings when husband and wife Harry and Freya Kipling purchase a seemingly worthless painting at a car boot sale, only to uncover a hidden masterpiece beneath its surface, potentially worth millions. Their discovery plunges them into the world of art forgery and double-crossing, where DS Grace must unravel a cold murder case to protect them.
Mark Oxtoby is the clear standout as former forger-gone-straight Dave Hegarty, bringing charisma, comic timing and a level of believability that the rest of the cast don’t quite match. Adam Morris also delivers a charming turn as flamboyant TV presenter Oliver de Souza, adding some much-needed sparkle to proceedings, though his appearance is a brief one.
George Rainsford’s Roy Grace, however, feels disappointingly flat. Known for his work on Casualty, Rainsford delivers a serviceable performance, but his Grace lacks the depth and moral weight that fans might expect. Similarly, Gemma Stroyan’s Bella Moy doesn’t get much to do, and with Grace’s usual partner, Glen Brandon, absent from this version, the investigative duo lacks chemistry.
Unlike the masterful forgery at the heart of the plot, the characters are painted in rather too broad strokes but thankfully, the pace never lags. The second half, in particular, kicks into gear with more twists and energy to keep the audience on side.
This isn’t the dark, psychological world of James’ novels. Instead, it’s more of a lightly drawn caper with a dash of theatre noir. Picture You Dead is unlikely to satisfy hardcore fans of the books, but if you don’t mind your crime capers a little paint-by-numbers, then this is a more than serviceable piece of escapism.
3/5
