Rebus: A Game Called Malice at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh

I'm the wrong person to review a stage play about Sir Ian Rankin's famous detective John Rebus.

Because, having read all 25 of his novels, I have my own picture of what Rebus is like, and Ken Stott's TV portrayal of him from 2000 to 2007 fits the (old) bill!

Rankin co-wrote this play (with award-winning playwright and screenwriter Simon Reade) and was hands-on in the production of it, so he is obviously very happy with the result – which now makes a nonsense of what I'm about to write.

For me Gray O'Brien's Rebus doesn't have a strong enough character; he's not the maverick we read about in Rankin's books, the man who is not afraid to bend the rules. He just didn't look lived in enough, and he was too meek, too quiet.

Talking of quiet, the back of the dress circle isn't the best place for a reviewer to see the action, or hear it for that matter, and I missed the gist of the play and who the players were because I couldn't always hear what was being said.

The Festival Theatre seats 1,915 and having just opened at the 666-capacity Cambridge Arts Theatre, maybe the cast weren't used to the space on opening night.

So, all in all, it was a disappointing evening, redeemed only by a second act which matches any Agatha Christie whodunit, and as secrets are revealed so the cast comes to life as they turn on each other with some fiery performances, especially from Billy Hartman and Neil McKinven.

And I have no complaints about famous West End designer Terry Parsons' sumptuous set.

Rebus: A Game Called Malice is at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh until September 14.

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

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Image: Nobby Clark