Strangers on a Train- play adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith Intriguing and good adaptation

 Strangers on a Train- play adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith

Intriguing and good adaptation


  • -          What do you do if you meet a lunatic and he entangles you in a serious crime, murder even?
  • -          This is the theme of this thriller


As evident from the title, two strangers meet on a train and become acquainted.
This is perhaps the first lesson we need to learn so as to avoid being trapped by an apparently innocent stranger:
-          Do not start giving away your issues
When Guy Haines encounters Bruno Anthony, the men exchange information and then mention their main problems.
Guy Haines is married to an unfaithful wife that carries the child of a married lover and not just that, but won’t let go.
Bruno Anthony is mad with his father…
-          Well, the man is crazy anyway
So Bruno, also known in the play as Charles, comes up with the idea of killing the woman that blocks the path to happiness for Haines.
After having quite a few drinks, the latter even says:
-          Yah, sure
But only because he thinks this is a joke and they are not really going to do anything so preposterous and violent.
I guess this is where I need to insert a spoiler alert, even if I am not sure how much would be revealed that is not known:

-          The surprise is that the violent Bruno Anthony calls from the place where his target is in sight
-          I am going to kill your wife
Guy Haines appears as a second victim in this story.
Although, that is just up to the point where he indulges himself in the setup and stops protesting and goes along with the criminal.
A jury might qualify this situation as second degree murder, if there is such a thing, coming after the first.
When you kill someone with intent and you plan the details and all, that is the most serious, but there are murders when it was not intended.
At the start of the play there is an interesting passage from Plato and the dark and the white horse, followed by a dialogue.
-          Nature versus Nurture
The argument in conversation is that we all have a very dark side deep down and we get to see it at different moments.
I was surprised and delighted to find that the play had a cast with stars playing various characters.
Martin Sheen, Bill Nighy…
I think I have Bill Nighy as playing the detective, but if Martin Sheen was really in the adaption I do not know which his character was


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