AGATHA CHRISTIE’S WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION | COUNTY HALL, LONDON
★★★★★
“Roger May is a compelling force, driving Christie’s twisting whodunnit…”
Some 72 years after its premiere in London’s West End, Agatha Christie’s Witness For The Prosecution continues to enrapture audiences with this magnificent site-specific production in London’s County Hall – the imposing Octagonal Council Chamber proving an inspired double for the Old Bailey.
When Leonard Vole, accused of murder in cold blood, seeks the services of Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC, the battle for justice is exposed for what it is, a game. With the audience in the thick of the action and a jury of their peers sworn in as the jury, a case full of passion and betrayal unfolds – but who is telling the truth, and what will the verdict be? Did Vole really murder wealthy widow Emily French or has he been set up?
While there may be a public jury overseeing the case from their raised platform, this production is much more than just a jury play. The pre and post trial action unfolds in the well of the court, transporting us from the Robarts quarters, to London’s docklands and beyond, courtesy of William Dudley’s intricate and imaginative set design.
Directed with a fine flair for melodrama by Lucy Bailey, strong characters are the order of the day with the odd heightened turn in keeping with the genre and Christie’s love of stereotypes. Leonard Vole, a charming scoundrel, is seldom without a glint in his eye or far from a flash of his toothy smile, it’s a warm, affable performance from Charlie Preston.
Bringing a touch of gravitas to proceedings, Graham Seed ensures Mr Mayhew is the quintessential English solicitor, politeness personified yet wily and always watching, he is the Watson to Roger May’s Holmesian defence QC, Robarts. While they make a great double-act it’s May who drives this production with a sharp, commanding performance. Authoritative and fiercely competitive his energy never drops; the verbal jousting between Robarts, Justice Mainwright (a stately Christopher Saul) and oily prosecutor Myers (a determined Tom Godwin), is quite glorious.
Elsewhere, Richard Keightley catches the eye as the bluntly sardonic Inspector Herne, while Lara Lemon impresses as the vampish Romaine Vole, and Caroline Guthrie brings a nice seam of comedy to the fore as crotchety Scottish house keeper, Janet Mackenzie.
The entire experience is enhanced by snappy, choreographed scene changes, typical of the attention to detail displayed throughout. Mic Pool’s clever, almost subliminal, soundscape is beautifully complemented by Chris Davey’s subtle, ambient mood lighting.
Gripping throughout, spontaneous applause meets the verdict when it comes, but this is a play by Agatha Christie, which means there’s always a twist… and then some. Arguably, A Witness For The Prosecution is THE Must See play in London right now.
Tickets here.
