Postman Always Rings Twice

Genre: Drama
Opened 7 June 2005
Written: by James M Cain, adapted by Andrew Rattenbury
Directed: Lucy Bailey
Cast: Val Kilmer (Frank), Charlotte Emmerson (Cora)
Synopsis: When Frank drifts into their roadside cafe, Greek immigrant Nick and his wife Cora have no idea of the devastating effect he'll have on their lives. Fark and Cora begin a passionate affair that leads to murder, double-crossing and dubious courtroom deals...

What the critics had to say.....
NICK CURTIS for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Well, what a surprise. Val Kilmer, whose Hollywood roles run the gamut from blank to frankly narcissistic, delivers a splendid, unstarry, unselfish performance......powerfully moody piece" ADAM SCOTT for THE INDEPENDENT says, "In its best moments, however, the piece generates real heat and it does hold on longer than most pot boiler thrillers.....sadly this postman doesn't quite deliver." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Charlotte Emmerson is a dream as Cora, but Val Kilmer lacks sexuality as Frank." IAN JOHNS for THE TIMES says, "His [Val Kilmer] stilted performance infects the pace of the production. Despite the director Lucy Bailey's best efforts to give it a cinematic feel, no amount of lighted cigarettes and moody shadows on the wall can hide the leaden moments." LYNN GARDNER for THE GUARDIAN "Quite simply he [Val Kilmer] fails to give satisfaction. Not only is the chunky movie actor too old for the role but, despite the fact that he throws the furniture about and snarls at all the appropriate moments, he has all the stage presence of a damp tea towel." JEREMY AUSTIN for THE STAGE says, "Fails to deliver....Lucy Bailey's uninspired direction fails to escape the viscosity of Andrew Rattenbury's pedestrian script... Characterisation is weak"

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Independent
The Guardian
The Stage
The Times
Daily Telegraph