Community Archived Reviews Witness for the Prosecution
KDHX Theatre Review - Witness for the Prosecution
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Reviewed by Sheila Schultz
To those of us tutored by John Grisham, Scott Turow and Steve Martini (all attorney-novelists), Witness For The Prosecution may seem at first a historical relic. Contemporary legal thrillers of all forms, including NBC's Law and Order, have cultivated lay audiences who can speak fluently about "exculpatory evidence," a 12-point DNA match or the post-traumatic stress disorder defense.
Aficionados have acquired a certain level of sophistication on matters of legal interpretation, rules of evidence and courtroom procedure, not to mention high-tech forensic methods, which make ordinary fingerprinting seem archaic.
So, … what can a dusty murder mystery from 1953 offer us? Not much, unless it was written by Agatha Christie, author of 20 plays and 94 books. It's easy to see why she is still one of the most translated authors in the world. With keen insight into human nature, Christie develops compelling stories by interweaving critical events in the lives of temperamental characters with conflicting agendas.
In this thriller, as the press notes explain, "young and charming Leonard Vole is the prime suspect in the murder of [Emily French,] an elderly woman who had willed him her entire fortune. Fortunately, his wife [Romaine] provides the perfect alibi, assuring the authorities he was at home with her when the deed was done… On the [witness] stand, however, she drops a bombshell," one of many twists in this courtroom drama.
Witness For The Prosecution is a product of its time. It reverts to simplistic explanations, both legal and psychological, that strain the credulity of current theatre-goers. Still, it remains a gripping tale with characters and situations that ignite our Inner Detective. And that spells suspense!
Someone is lying on the witness stand. But who? Janet MacKenzie, the trusted housekeeper of the deceased? Dr. Wyatt, the coroner? Leonard Vole, the boyishly handsome defendant? Or Romaine Heilger, the German actress Vole married after his military service in WWII? There's definitely something fishy about her. Who can believe anything an actress says? Romaine locks horns with Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Joneal Joplin), her husband's defense attorney, and proves a thorny opponent. Has she gone mad? Is she the real murderer? I'm not telling.
Under the direction of Michael Evan Haney, Joneal Joplin turns in a forceful leading performance. His craft is impeccable, his voice pleasingly sonorous. Christopher Kelly, with an iffy British accent, is not entirely convincing as Vole. Dale Hodges supplies the most entertaining supporting performance as the irascible housekeeper whose damning testimony sings with the cadence of a perfect Scots brogue. KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi assumes the role of a peruked barrister, a silent but notable presence.
As the role dictates, Romaine (Deanne Lorette) is cold and calculating, but Lorette refuses to allow her character even the tiniest spark of warmth, which renders her unsympathetic. Even when the character displays a touch of vulnerability, the actress remains brittle. Fortunately, Joplin generates more than enough warmth for everyone.
Paul Shortt's meticulous set evokes the weightiness of London's Old Bailey criminal court, reinforcing the seriousness of the proceedings. Stylish period costumes (Elizabeth Covey) provide us with a welcome respite from our digital age anxieties. Phil Monat's lighting design enhances the compulsory creepiness factor of the murder mystery. The overall impression is more than effective.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis's Mainstage Series concludes its 39th season with Witness For The Prosecution, which runs through April 14th [2006] at the Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for Performing Arts, located at 130 Edgar Road on the campus of Webster University. For tickets, call 314-968-4925. Visit www.repstl.org for more information and a gallery of production photos, as well as on line tickets.
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