Witness for the Prosecution by the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theater in North Hollywood (Photo – Troy Whitaker).
Agatha Christie’s classic from the 50’s, “Witness for the Prosecution,” was brought to life by the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theater in North Hollywood with all the necessary tension, plot twists, questionable motives and cryptic comments to keep the audience following every word and trying to get a step ahead of the story and read the characters’ minds.
By Carol Edger Germain
Good fun (I guess that should be “jolly good fun” since the setting is London), even if you’ve seen the play, read the story, and know the plot twists. I was glad that it had been so many years since I had read it that I was fuzzy on the flurry of twists at the end when it spirals to the conclusion, it kept me guessing. I also liked a twist that was added by this company – one of the defense solicitors was played by a woman rather than a man. The play is 2 hours long, with two 10-minute intermissions, and the time flew, the action did not drag, and scene changes were quick with the amazing revolving stage constructed for this production.
Leonard Vole (Patrick Skelton), a charming, struggling inventor who has befriended the wealthy elderly Emily French, is accused of her murder, and was apparently unaware that she had developed a philanthropic attachment to him and made him the beneficiary of her estate. Vole’s wife Romaine (guest star Salome Jens) acts as his alibi, until the prosecution calls her as a witness. Romaine’s seemingly loosely-connected participation in the trial process is subtle and effective in leading the audience one way, only to become fully engaged in the dramatic turns at the end. Great for fans of classic mid-century courtroom drama and just as entertaining for those who may not already have a penchant for the genre.
Witness for the Prosecution (Photo – Troy Whitaker).
Sir Wilfred Robarts (Larry Eisenberg) and Mrs. Mayhew (Michele Schultz) take on the hopeless defense of Vole, believing him possibly innocent. They expect Romaine to provide an alibi, but she is shockingly called as a witness for the prosecution and does not provide an alibi for her husband, but don’t start thinking that’s the end of her story! The twists start coming, along with high drama and even some humor. You’ll have to see it to get the whole story – “it’s complicated” as the saying goes when you don’t want to give away the details.
Well worth your time – enjoy!
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