Witness For the Prosecution
Review
Walking into the chamber in City Hall, the setting is perfect. The audience form a semi-circle surrounding the stage in an intimate setting which enhances the atmosphere.
Agatha Christie's story begins with Leonard Vole being accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth. Jack McMullen plays the young, naive Vole beautifully.
Vole's wife Romaine (Catherine Shepherd) is introduced early on. We know he is besotted with her, but are his feelings reciprocated? Is she saying what the QC wants to hear and is this the truth? A vibrant and charismatic character that you feel you never truly understand. Is she trying to save Vole from the hangman's noose or send him there?
Two excellent actors deliver the courtroom drama. Back and forth, moving between the prosecution delivered by Mr Myers (Patrick Godfrey) to the stout defence of QC Sir Wilfred Robarts (David Yelland) there is drama, passion and humour as we follow the proceedings. The detective, forensics expert and housekeeper are all called to the stand. They are as you would expect and perhaps slight stereotypes.
With each witness the lawyers battle to persuade us of their argument. Is it as straightforward as Mr Myers would make you believe or do others have a motive for ensuring an innocent man is wrongly convicted?
I couldn't believe there wasn't a twist somewhere, and I was guessing throughout. I cannot give away the ending, but it did not disappoint. This is a must-see for anyone who enjoys a classy, well-acted play that builds up to it's conclusion beautifully and leaves you satisfied by an ending you did not expect.
https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk
