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Show: Witness for the Prosecution
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: London County Hall
Credits: By Agatha Christie. Produced by Eleanor Lloyd Productions & Rebecca Stafford Productions.
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 23/10/2017
Witness for the Prosecution
[David Yelland and the cast in Witness for the Prosecution. Photo: Sheila Burnett]
One of Agatha Christie’s best plays, Witness for the Prosecution, has opened in style this week at the London County Hall Chamber on the Southbank. Starring Jack McMullen, Catherine Steadman, David Yelland and Philip Franks, the Queen of Crime’s tense courtroom drama – played out in-the-round and surrounded by County Hall’s original marble pillars, green leather seating and oak furniture – proves Christie’s genius is anything but dated.
Leonard Vole stands accused of murdering Emily French, a single, wealthy, older woman who the young married man had recently befriended – and made Vole the sole beneficiary of her will. What at first looks like an open-and-shut case attracts the services of barrister, Sir Wilfred Robarts QC, who relishes a courtroom battle with long-time foe and Crown prosecutor, Mr Myers QC. When Vole’s wife, Romaine, agrees to testify for her husband – supporting his alibi – things are looking up… until, during the trial, Romaine appears not for the defence but for the prosecution.
Any more than that and all will be spoilt, but in true Christie style Lucy Bailey’s authentic production has some seriously surprising twists and turns along the way, plus an ending no-one sees coming. With Hercule Poirot (a.k.a. David Suchet) himself looking on, the sumptuously-seated press night audience were fully immersed for a 1950s Old Bailey trial.
As Vole, Leonard McMullen’s boyish innocence serves him well in a pretty perfect piece of casting. Add in David Yelland’s animated and competitive Robarts, the equally matched (and equally amusing) Philip Franks as Myers, plus the extremely grumpy looking high court judge, Mr Justice Wainwright (Patrick Godfrey), and the scene is not only set, but in safe hands.
The titular ‘witness’ of the piece, Downton Abbey’s Catherine Steadman gives a strong account of herself as Romaine Vole and is a joy to watch especially as the accused’s German wife becomes somewhat hysterical and out of control in the witness box, forcing an incandescent judge Wainwright to scream at her – one of several moments of the night which allow the audience a chuckle or two. Another press night chuckle was saved for the sorry member of the public who unsuspectingly sat in the Chairman of the Jury’s seat; cast into the spotlight, he delivered his big line… dressed in a t-shirt. He won’t be doing that again!
There’s only so much one dares give away with a crime thriller, so best get yourself a ticket before 11 March 2018. With The Shrek Adventure also occupying County Hall just a stone’s throw away, plus a host of fast-food outlets, Witness for the Prosecution is by far the best thing going on right now in Ken Livingstone’s old GLC haunt.
Highly recommended to renew your faith in the Queen of Crime’s timeless legend – and let’s not forget, we also have Kenneth Branagh’s newly adapted film version of Murder on the Orient Express opening on 3rd November.
[Jack McMullen and Jon House in Witness for the Prosecution. Photo: Sheila Burnett]
- : admin
- : 23/10/2017