Rebus: A Game Called Malice – Review – York Theatre Royal

By Karl Hornsey, October 2024

The character of Inspector Rebus has long been established as one of the most-loved and enduring in the canon of British detectives, and that affection shows little sign of waning. Since first appearing in Knots and Crosses in 1987, the irascible Edinburgh cop has been played on stage and screen by the likes of John Hannah, Ken Stott and Charles Lawson, while the success of the recent TV reboot shows that there is more life in the old dog just yet.

So, it was no surprise that the York Theatre Royal was packed to see the opening night of the latest short story from the pen of Sir Ian Rankin – Rebus: A Game Called Malice, which offers a modern take on several staples of the traditional crime-solving genre. Gray O’Brien plays the eponymous detective, supported by Abigail Thaw, Billy Hartman, Teresa Banham, Neil McKinven and Jade Kennedy in a cast of just six, all of whom largely remain on stage in the single set used for whole of the play.

“Focus of attention”

That set depicts the drawing room of a grand house in a high-end part of Edinburgh, where hosts Harriet and Paul Godwin have just welcomed four guests to dinner. And, of course, one of those guests just happens to be the recently retired Rebus. The play is a relatively short one, so packs in plenty of dialogue from the off, quickly introducing the characters and adding back stories as they attempt to solve a murder mystery story set by Harriet. While Rebus takes on something of a peripheral role during the first act, chipping in here and there, he still remains the focus of attention, offering up some useful notes on the art of solving a murder, while the hidden relationships between all of those present are gradually unfolded.

As most of the other characters disappear from view at some stage, it’s no surprise at all that the act ends with news of a dead body being found upstairs (and out of sight), and it wouldn’t have been a shock had Rebus declared at this point that ‘The Game is Afoot’. There are clear parallels with the wonderful An Inspector Calls, as the less seemly habits and characteristics of the guests are revealed and, as with many a dinner party, it’s not too long before everyone there regrets ever accepting their invites in the first place.

“Much to like”

Rebus dominates the second act, firstly ‘solving’ the fictional murder mystery in a flash, and then piecing together the clues as to who it is that’s been found and just how they came to be in the house in the first place, and where they fitted into the lives of those present. There’s much to like about this production, with the relatively understated Rebus among them, while anyone with a love of old-fashioned period crime deducing will also enjoy. At its heart, it’s about the human psyche and how everyone has secrets that will likely one day be uncovered, and it’s a great piece of entertainment to tide over Rebus fans until he next appears on the page and our TV screens.

‘Rebus: A Game Called Malice’ runs until Saturday 19th October at York Theatre Royal