A Picture of Greed and Deception in the Art World
Naomi MacKay got caught up in murder and mystery as she watched Picture You Dead at Milton Keynes Theatre – running until Saturday 10 May.
When the Kiplings stumble upon a painting that could be a hugely valuable, long-lost masterpiece, they are thrown into a world of art forgery and, ultimately, murder!
Anyone who frequents car boot sales always hopes that they might come across a bargain that turns out to be of life-changing value. So when the sweet Kiplings (no relation to the man who makes the cakes!) make their find, they consult a local artist about its provenance, not knowing that he is in fact a former criminal turned master art copyist.
The character of Hegerty, wonderfully played by Peter Ash (Coronation Sreet) is in actual fact based on a real life art forger turned copyist David Henty, whom crime writer Peter James once met. Peter’s Roy Grace stories are massively popular among crime fiction fans, and this is the seventh book to be adapted to the stage.
Following the Kiplings’ appearance on a programme that bears a remarkable resemblance to Antiques Roadshow, with a comedic appearance by Adam Morris as art expert Oliver De Souza, they find themselves embroiled in the murky underworld of art dealing, where greed, deception and murder are as important as the artworks themselves.
There are twists and turns aplenty, as sinister art dealer Stuart Piper (Nicholas Maude) enlists the help of the shady Roberta Kilgore (Jodie Steele) to get his coveted painting – however she can. Jodie brought great comedic timing to the role, but wasn’t quite as scary or threatening as she might have been.
George Rainsford, (probably best known for his TV doctor role in Casualty), returns to reprise the role of famous literary detective, DSI Roy Grace. Fans of the books and previous plays will know him well, and know his back story, but as someone who has never encountered him before, to me the character seemed a little one-dimensional.
The plot is clever, if a little predictable, but without giving anything away there’s one final twist at the end that had the audience both gasping and laughing!
If you’re a fan of Peter James, DSI Roy Grace, or murder mysteries, Picture You Dead offers a fun way to get your fix with a live stage show, in a franchise that has become the most successful modern-day crime franchise on stage since Agatha Christie.
Book your tickets at atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes.
Pic (L-R): George Rainsford (DSI Roy Grace) and Nicholas Maude (Stuart Piper). Pic credit: Alistair Muir.
