Picture You Dead
Picture You Dead
Milton Keynes Theatre (UK Tour)
Review Complete
“A hidden gem of a masterpiece.”
6th May 2025
I don’t go to very many plays as my focus is more on Musical Theatre but tonight made me realise I should definitely see more as I enjoyed it so much.
The play is based on Peter James’ novel of the same name that tackles the dangerous subject of forgery and deep faking of great works of art which, according to the dialogue in the play, is far more common than I had imagined! The story starts with Freya Kipling, played extremely well by Fiona Wade, coming back from a car boot sale with a scruffy old painting that turns out to be hiding a lost masterpiece worth millions.
The situation gradually becomes more dangerous as people try to get their hands on the multi-million painting and then someone is found dead. The cast were largely excellent with George Rainsford taking on the role of DI Roy Grace. I liked him a lot and found him a very convincing cop. Peter Ash played art forger Dave Hegarty and I think he was my favourite character. He had been in prison and was going straight but somehow still open to all options! Ben Cutler played Freya’s husband, Harry and Mark Oxtoby was burglar Archie Goff.
The sinister art collector, Stuart Piper, was brilliantly played by Nicholas Maude and Gemma Stroyan was DI Grace’s second in command, Bella. I was slightly disappointed in Jodie Steele’s portrayal of Roberta Kilgore. She was the dangerous art agent and procurer of paintings for Stuart Piper but somehow she wasn’t totally convincing as a baddie and she looked a bit awkward holding a gun. However, this didn’t detract from the evening and with its many plot twists and turns this play really keeps you on the edge of your seat.
There are a few jumps in there too combined with a degree of humour that helps to keep some of the darker sections bearable. This play is a classic “who-dun-it” that makes writer Peter James a very worthy successor to Agatha Christie and, after all, who doesn’t love a bit of crime drama!
Reviewer: Julia Rufey
We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.