It is hard to know what Daphne du Maurier would have made of Kneehigh’s production of Rebecca.

Although the famous storyline is largely adhered to, a succession of musical interludes from the Truro-based theatre company and several not altogether successful attempts to provide comic relief seemed at odds with the seriousness of the subject matter.

Du Maurier wrote the novel at the tender age of 30, and called it “a study in jealousy”.

It tells the story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower, Max de Winter, only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier.

The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome but cold husband, and she also has to deal with the jealous, obsessed housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.

Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliant 1940 film adaptation was always going to be an impossible act to follow, and it cannot be an easy story to adapt to the stage, dramatic though it is.

Yet director Emma Rice made some strange choices, with little scenery to show the grandeur of Manderley, the house to which they return. And so often were the cast down at the cove that at times it more resembled Jamaica Inn than Rebecca.

However, there were some good performances. Tristan Sturrock is a convincing Maxim de Winter, and Ewan Wardrop makes a fine bounder as Jack Favell.

To my mind, though, Imogen Sage is not meek enough at the start as the naive new Mrs de Winter — although she does well in demonstrating her empowerment on learning the truth behind Rebecca’s death — and Emily Raymond is not frightening or mysterious enough as Mrs Danvers.

At times the attempts to make the play light-hearted were just plain silly, leading to a number of members of the audience muttering during the interval: “It’s not what I expected.”

Rice said in her programme notes: “I have taken liberties that I hope du Maurier would approve of, all in the name of a good night out.”

I’m not so sure she would have done.

Rebecca
Wycombe Swan Theatre
Until Saturday
Tickets: 01494 512000