One for the road for Rebus

THIS is ‘one, or maybe two for the road’ for our hard-drinking, hard-bitten dour Edinburgh detective, who has now supposedly retired.

That’s because there just happens to be one particular unsolved murder haunting the inner recesses of his mind and he won’t be putting his feet up until there’s justice for the victim and ghosts laid to rest.

This new Rebus story from the prolific Ian Rankin has been adapted for the stage by the gifted Rona Munro and it works extremely well in spite of a simplistic set reeking of austerity.

This is due through no small effort on the part of the two main protagonists in this intriguing case of criminality - John Rebus and arch-enemy ‘Big Ger’ Cafferty, played respectively by Charles Lawson and John Stahl.

Lawson, currently back on the cobbles in ITV’s Coronation Street, and Stahl, who those with long memories might recall from Take the High Road, clearly enjoyed the roles and their verbal spats which neatly set up the undertones of evil that has so far gone unpunished.

Television fans of Rebus may have their favourite and here it is Ken Stott’s portrayal that scores heavily over John Hannah - who could not match those lived-in, hang-dog looks of the former.

So how does Lawson fare? Not too bad at all, in fact quite impressive.

Before the show went on the road he said: ‘I don’t feel baggage. I’ll get on and I’ll do him to the best of my ability.” Adding that he felt it was a great part, the sort that comes along once in a blue moon.

The best of his ability just about cracks it - the mannerisms, the looks, hunched shoulders and a more than passable Scottish accent from a man who was born in Belfast.

The experienced and talented Cathy Tyson is Rebus’s old sidekick Siobhan Clarke, who has risen through the ranks since our man of the people joined them in Civvy Street and provides good support.

Meanwhile Stahl captures the essence of his menacing role to the degree that you want to hiss and boo when he confronts Rebus and Clarke - hell bent on destroying and corrupting one or the other, or both.

Dani Heron and Eleanor House are quite striking too in their ethereal mode of two murdered women Rebus is forced to recall and remember as part of promises he made.

They were murders unsolved years ago but with continuing advances in criminal detection through DNA there is the possibility retribution may yet be forthcoming thanks to our gritty but tormented ex-detective.

This Rebus play deserves to see glasses charged with that distinctive drink from north of the border and raised to give a well earned toast.

Rebus would surely join in…