Looking Good Dead by Peter James, Manor Pavilion Theatre Sidmouth until 24 August 2024.

3✩✩✩. Review: Cormac Richards.

"Shocks, twists and turns a plenty."

Peter James’ thrillers have been something of a phenomenon, they sell by the bucketload and have been successfully adapted for TV in the form of the series ‘Grace’. In the recent past they have also made their way on to the stage, ‘Looking Good Dead’ is the third that has been performed as part of the Summer Play Festival.

The reviewer always needs to take care of saying too much for fear of giving away the plot in what is a complex story with shocks, twists and turns a plenty. Suffice to say this is a pretty grim story with a number of unsavoury themes to it; it could be the nastiest storyline to have hit the stage at the Festival. James has a huge fan base, evident in the ticket sales for the week, but whether his books transfer successfully to the stage is another matter.

A startling opening leads into a slow burning scene-setter, but the action ramps up to a helter skelter of revelations and plot contrivances as Detective Superintendent  Grace and his team uncover the villains and the Bryce family, at the centre of the action, find out what is what! At times, though, the plot lacks credibility, though the production just about gets away with it and maybe one shouldn’t think about it too deeply. With the action swapping between three locations continually, the guiding hand of the director is vital and Jason Marc-Williams ensures the action flows and the tension is built effectively.

Dominic McChesney and Stephanie Willson make for a feisty warring couple whose marriage and future is on the very brink. Charlie Bryant is excellent as their son, Max, full of teenage bravado and attitude but emotionally fragile in the face of some terrible circumstances. Eoin Lynch played the role of Roy Grace in last year’s ‘Not Dead Enough’ and he does so again here with great stage presence and authority, he is reunited with Emily Outred who once more portrays DS Bella Moy with an efficiency and compassion. They are joined in the investigating team by Yannick Budd as the wise-cracking Glenn Branson, bringing some much needed light relief amidst the gloom. A great trio. Anton Tweedale is on fine form as American businessman and Tom Mann offers a really strong performance as Mick and with Molly Ellis’s startling turn as Janie, this is, once again a very strong cast.

 I have commented a lot about the sets in the current Season and here three different locations are realised so well by the design team – despite the restrictions of the small stage, the space is used to the maximum.

 So, do these thrillers work well on stage? To a certain extent, but the script writing is a tad clunky at times and any chance of character development is stymied by the concentration on plotting; there is something slightly cosmetic about it.  As mentioned, the plot of this play is not pleasant, but not many of James’ storylines are. All that being said, in order to keep the Summer Season fresh, there is a real need to seek up to date additions to it and these thrillers have attracted new people to the Manor Pavilion which must be applauded.

 If you are looking for shocks and tension, then ‘Looking Good Dead’ is dead good.

 

 Cast

Tom Bryce – Dominic McChesney

Kellie Bryce - Stephanie Willson

Roy Grace – Eoin Lynch

Jonas Kent – Anton Tweedale

Glenn Branson – Yannick Budd

Bella Moy – Emily Outred

Max Bryce – Charlie Bryant

Mick – Tom Mann

Janie – Molly Ellis

 

Creatives

Writer – Peter James

Director – Jason Marc-Williams

Design – Andrew Beckett

Lighting & Sound Operation – Mark Rose

Costume Designer – Jan Huckle

Lighting & Sound Design – James Prendergast

Set Builder – Rhys Cannon

Props Supervisor - James Prendergast

Artistic Director - Paul Taylor-Mills

Season Associate Producer – Andrew Beckett