The Lady Vanishes – The Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle upon Tyne

Writer: Ethel Lina White

Adaptor: Mark Simpson

Director: Mark Sterling

Reviewer: Ian Cain

The Public Reviews Rating:

Famously immortalised for the silver screen by Alfred Hitchcock, in 1938, ‘The Lady Vanishes’ was adapted by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder from the 1936 novel, ‘The Wheel Spins’ by Ethel Lina White. The movie starred Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave and Dame May Whitty, and was, arguably, the catalyst that led to Hitchcock moving to Hollywood. A re-make was produced in 1979, starring Cybill Shepherd, Elliott Gould and Angela Lansbury. Now Triode productions have brought a new adaptation, by Mark Simpson, to the stage.

As war looms over Europe, a cosmopolitan collection of eccentrics are stuck in a hotel on the Swiss borders, due to an avalanche. They all agree that to get back to London they must board the next trans-alpine express and risk what could – and does – turn out to be a perilous journey.

Dazed and woozy from a bang on the head by a door, socialite Iris (Penelope Rawlins) is befriended and taken care of by an endearing little old lady, named Miss Froy (Jane Evers). Things take a sinister turn when the old lady vanishes into thin air and the other passengers deny ever seeing her in the first place.

Undeterred by their lack of co-operation, and despite the fact that an eminent Austrian brain specialist, Dr Egon Hartz (Terry Molloy) convinces everyone that she must be hallucinating, Iris begins to investigate. Despite an initially confrontational encounter with Gilbert (Darrell Brockis), a young musicologist, in the hotel, Iris convinces him that foul play is afoot and the pair set out to discover the truth.

Initially, the set – designed by Maurice Rubens – which comprises the hotel reception, two bedrooms, a servant’s quarters, a dining room and a portion of the hotel exterior, seems cramped. However, when it revolves to depict the carriages of the steam train you cannot fail to be impressed.

This adaptation, although quaint and twee, is really rather charming. Mark Sterling’s direction also ensures that the action rattles along at a rip-roaring pace. The inclusion of Charters (Clive Flint) and Caldicott (Andrew Bone), two pompous, cricket-mad Englishmen and Gladys (Nia Davies), Iris’s dotty friend, add much comedy relief to the production.

Several of the talented and hard-working supporting cast are required to double-up and play more than one character. Steven Rostance and Helen Armes not only perform the parts of Waiter/Steward, Maid/Nun/Frau Kummer, but also act as Assistant Stage Managers, too.

Although each of the performances are faultless, several stand out. Terry Molloy as hotel manager, Salvatore, and brain specialist, Dr Hartz, has a commanding stage presence, whilst Penelope Rawlins injects feistiness into the role of Iris without ever diminishing the vulnerability of the character. Jane Evers is endearing as the retired governess, Miss Froy, and Darrell Brockis is the archetypal romantic hero.

This production of ‘The Lady Vanishes’ combines intrigue and suspense with drama and comedy and it is wonderfully nostalgic. I was disappointed, therefore, to note that the audience was not considerably larger.