Everyone has intrusive thoughts of some kind or another. That voice from the deepest recess of your mind that tells us to do wild things. Sometimes, it tells us to do dark things, unsettling thoughts that make us question whether we are good people. As humans develop, we develop a conscience, or a superego for those psychology enthusiasts, which keeps the balance between the Id and the Ego. But what if that conscience never developed? What if we were almost just moments away from acting on those dark impulses hidden in our brains? Meadow Brook Theatre’s Strangers On A Train explores dark desires and what happens when people struggle to say no to them.
This play, by Craig Warner, is based on the novel by the same name, Patricia Highsmith. It was previously adapted by horror icon Alfred Hitchcock back in 1951. Strangers on a Train is the perfect mixture of psychological thriller and noir, capturing the story of two men whose actions push each other to the absolute brink. Gaslighting, stalking, and unbound craziness drive the narrative from start to finish, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as they grapple with the incomprehensible choices that each character makes as Strangers On A Train progresses.
If you’re in the Metro Detroit area, not only should Meadow Brook Theatre be on your radar, but Strangers on a Train, directed by Travis Walter, should be necessary during the season of scares and chills. Want to know more about what makes this the perfect way to celebrate Halloween? Read on for more about Strangers On A Train and why you should attend the tale!
[Warning: spoilers from Strangers On A Train are below!]
Stranger danger on a train in Meadow Brook Theatre’s season opener
Growing up, we’re told not to talk to strangers, as there’s always a potential danger to those we don’t know. However, some time upon becoming an adult, that thought tends to fall away to some degree. We become more open to speaking to those we don’t know, or feel obligated to be cordial to those approaching us. Yet, what happens when you’re on a train, far away from your life, and approached by a stranger?
We meet Guy Haines (Ron Williams) here, who is reading a book and drinking alone in a booth on a barreling vehicle. Stoic and enjoying the train ride to himself, Guy is approached by the larger-than-life Charles Bruno (Stephen Blackwell) with an absolutely insane proposition. Turns out both men have someone in their life that is causing them emotional pain and everything would be better if that just went away.
For Guy, it’s his wife. Pregnant by another man, haunting him like a ghost, refusing to leave, and bringing down his happiness, forcing him to live a life that no longer suits him. For Charles, it’s his father who he sees as an obstacle. Removing his father from this world would allow Charles to secure his inheritance and live the life he feels he deserves. Two different people stand in the way of both Guy and Charles’ happiness; whatever are they going to do?
It’s here that Charles concocts an evil plan. What if he kills Guy’s wife, and in return, Guy murders Charles’ father? It’s the perfect crime, as these two men are just strangers who met on a train. There’s no connection, no direct line from one to another. Hell, they even live in different cities; there’s enough distance and no clear motive that no one would suspect in the slightest. Thinking Charles is kidding, Guy agrees to the half-baked scheme and goes about his life thinking none the wiser.
However, it isn’t long before he gets a call informing him that his wife is dead, a pivotal moment that changes Guy’s life forever. That act of a madman pushes Guy psychologically in ways he’ll never fully understand, especially as the weight of Charles Bruno comes crashing down on him.
Guy can’t escape Charles and his increasingly crazy antics, creating a ticking time bomb for both men. Can Guy fight against Charles and his desperation, or is he destined to become a monster in his own right? The twists and turns of Strangers On A Train are never-ending, barreling full steam ahead until it reaches its final destination.
Relationship dynamics drives Strangers On A Train
Funnily enough, as much as I love horror films and the works of Alfred Hitchcock, I’ve never seen Strangers On A Train. In my head, I was so sure that this entire play had to take place on a train. A murder mystery set on a speeding metal can across America, making audiences feel claustrophobic as it’s a race against time. Let me tell you, Strangers On A Train is nothing like the vision I had in my head and even better than I could have imagined.
The core of this play is the relationship between the characters as the drama unfolds. Obviously, the driving relationship is the one that develops between our two strangers, Guy and Charles; one that both of these men lose themselves in. Guy struggles with the reality of what’s occurring around him, suffocated by the never-wavering presence of Charles. Charles becomes a voice in his head that keeps picking at the emotional scabs that lie within Guy. Guy feels partially responsible for the death of his wife but can move on until he completes his end of the bargain. However, doing so will ultimately change him.
Conversely, Charles’ obsession with Guy is almost more interesting. While Guy is spiraling in his mind, Charles becomes infatuated with Guy and his life. Guy is established, level-headed, and has a (second) wife who is as brilliant as lovely. Guy has the life that Charles truly wants, which leads him to stalking Guy long past the murders. The way these two men swirl around each other, involved in a dance that feels like a game of chess. With each move, the game gets incredibly dangerous, and audience members can’t help but hold their breath as the stakes increase.
However, all the other relationships in Strangers On A Train make Guy and Charles’ dynamics even more interesting. You see more of both men’s lives through side stories and how they’ve become who they are in the play. For Guy, you learn early in the show that while he is upset about his wife, he’s no saint. Cheating seems to be a defining feature of his marriage, as he had relations with Anne (Ashley Wickett) long before his wife’s passing.
This is not to say that his relationship with Anne is a bad one, as it appears that they both seem to care about each other very much. That being said, a relationship that begins with one person cheating has a certain level of doom built right into it. Anne becomes a crucial part of the puzzle, especially once she marries Guy and Charles becomes more involved in their lives.
The most intriguing relationship, however, is that of Charles and his mother, Elise (Julia Glander). There’s a Psycho-esque relationship between the two, with Charles and Elise acting as lovers at times instead of a mother-son relationship. It’s uncomfortable to watch at times, which is by design. There’s something off about the high society life that these two characters live as they band together against the harshness of the patriarch of the family. You can see precisely why Charles became who he is: a philanderer who doesn’t see anything wrong with drinking his life away and taking the life of another to get what he wants.
With the dynamics between characters serving as the meat and potatoes of this play, it’s because of the incredible work of the actors that Strangers on the Train is so addictive. Everyone on stage is working impossibly hard to bring this story to life. Strangers On A Train has moments where every actor can shine, and some of the greatest work on the stage is happening not in the dialogue but in the facial work for the characters. This is a show that you truly have to see at least twice; the first so you can take in the story, but the second so you can watch those characters who aren’t front and center in the scenes.
This season opener for Meadow Brook Theatre isn’t one to miss!
Strangers On A Train is an intoxicating ride that will leave audiences craving more. From the story to the characters, this play is a deep dive into the psyche of those pushed to the edge and then some. It explores the gray area in every single person and how small acts can lead to gigantic changes. One bad day can change someone forever, and Strangers On A Train proves that. So grab your tickets for this wild train ride, as you absolutely don’t want to miss Strangers On A Train!
Strangers On A Train runs now through November 3! Have you seen this play before? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or @boxseatbabes!
Meadow Brook Theatre’s Strangers On A Train Exclusive Interview
