STAGE REVIEW: Gallowglass - at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, Wednesday, January 24, to Saturday, January 27, 2018.

THE quality of thriller writer Ruth Rendell’s work is often unsurpassed but here she writes as Barbara Vine, and although there are any number of deviously enthralling twists and turns it didn’t quite pull you right onto the edge of your seat.

However, it is still as intriguing as its unusual title… a ‘Gallowglass’ having been something of a medieval mercenary regarded as servant of a Gaelic chief, who not only owed their life to him but did his dirty work in return.

Rendell - or rather Vine - seized upon the term for the title of this 1990 novel which is now enjoying a world stage premiere adaptation under the banner of the Middle Ground Theatre Company.

The ‘Gallowglass’ here is a vulnerable homeless young man with psychiatric problems who is prevented from a suicide attempt at a London Tube station by a fellow commuter from a well-heeled background.

But, our ‘rescuer’ says menacingly, he now belongs to him and he has a job to carry out - a kidnapping!

Sandor - played with the right degree of edginess by Joe Eyre, is the first of a line of manipulative characters. He too has mind issues and there are several others who are not quite so cosy or as flawless as they appear on the surface as secrets leak out.

As the plot thickens and moves on the conclusion at the back of the mind is - was there, or was there not an actual kidnap?

There are so many rapid-fire answers as various twists and turns are ironed out the audience is left almost in limbo. Is there more, another fusillade of facts? And then, before there is time to digest, all the cast are there in shadow.

Its over… the ‘i’s’ dotted, the ’t’s’ crossed!

On a positive note it’s a well structured tale us usual from Rendell, far from confusing to follow, but if there is a cause for concern it’s that it contains a touch too many sub-plots. Start snipping with stage scissors, perhaps a spot of tampering - with some areas streamlined - would usefully shorten or remove a plodding element over what is approaching a marathon three-hour stint.

The first part is too padded out and doesn’t leave enough time later for greater exploration of some key relationships such as Sandor and the rescued Joe, ruefully portrayed by Dean Smith, and the arrival of Essex girl Tilley (Rachel Hart), Joe’s 'good-time girl' sister, with a lust for making easy money.

Then there’s the dilemma created by the love affair of chauffeur Paul Garnett (Paul Opacic) and the extremely wealthy Nina (Florence Cady), and the moment when his daughter Jessica (excellently played by Eva Sayer), is snatched and the perpetrators demand a swap for his mistress.

It’s well staged and lit with music to match the mood thanks to local connections. Lynette Webster is a music teacher at the nearby Elms School, Colwall, and lighting designer Bob Hodges has worked in the past at both Worcester’s Swan and the Festival theatres.

On the whole a strong cast perform well with a challenging task, but the line-up does includes considerable experience in the shape of not only Paul Opacic (best known for playing Steve Marchant in Emmerdale) and Richard Walsh (Bert ‘Sicknote’ Quigley from London’s Burning), but also Karen Drury, who has appeared in numerous tv shows such as Heartbeat, Holby City, Coronation Street and also won best actress award at the Soap Awards for her role in Brookside.

Long as Gallowglass may be it is still time that will be well spent, if you have the time…