Stage Review - Witness for the Prosecution (Jewel Box)
Stage Review - Witness for the Prosecution
Presented By: Jewel Box Theatre - Poulsbo, WA
Show Run: May 31 - June 16, 2024
Date Reviewed: Saturday, June 01, 2024 (Opening Weekend)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman
There are two truths that everyone needs to know when they see an Agatha Christie story come up in theatre schedules around Kitsap. The first is that the play is going to be rife with suspense, twists and turns, and murder, depicted in the manner only the “Queen of Crime” can. The second is that somehow, Jeffrey Bassett is going to be involved in the production, and that involvement is most likely wearing the monocle of director. So it is with the latest show on stage at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo, Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, in which Jeffrey doesn’t just direct, he also contributes by way of a leading role in the show. The play, which runs on stage through June 16, is the rare courtroom drama from the author. Most are familiar with her standard fare, a story of murder (or murders), where an entire group of people are suspects, rounded up by a detective (Poirot, Marple) or police investigator, by whom each suspect and action is dissected until, after a typically entertaining and suspenseful discourse, the crime is solved.
Witness for the Prosecution is a departure for Christie. It’s also something that took a little time to get from page to stage. Originally a short story called Traitor’s Hands, written in 1925 and included in the collection The Hound of Death, it became a play after theatre producer Peter Saunders approached the author with a request to adapt it, to which she responded that if he wanted it done he was going to have to do it himself. Which he did. But not very well, so Christie adapted it herself into the version of Witness for the Prosecution that is on stage currently in Poulsbo. In this story, the murder has already happened, that of Emily French, a wealthy older woman. Leonard Vole is the chief suspect, and is eventually arrested for the murder, as he has developed a relationship with French, and was heard speaking to the victim shortly before her death by French’s maid Janet Mackenzie. Enter Sir Wilfrid Robarts, a man of honor and pride, and the attorney charged with defending Vole against the Crown’s attorney and Wilfrid’s chief rival Myers. In typical Christie fashion, nothing is what it seems, Vole has fully cooperated with the police and is insistent in his innocence, while his wife Romaine, a German ex-pat, is herself a bit of an enigma and keeps Wilfrid, and the audience, on their toes. By the time the show ends, that audience won’t know which way is up, having just experience one gasp-worthy moment after another in this whodunit that seems straightforward, and is anything but.
One thing that Jeffrey demands as a director is that his cast members understand the nuance and the intention of the author, and reflect those within their performances. Knowing how the story ends is important, of course, but having insight into the motivations of their characters is key to being able to portray them in a way that makes the story impactful to the audience. In Witness for the Prosecution, Jeffrey leads by example as attorney Wilfrid Robarts. His character is full of ego, determined not just to defend his client successfully, but beating his rival Myers, played nicely by Michael Dorsey. The pair are excellent sparring partners in court, respectfully combative, they command the courtroom, and the jury, here the audience, facing them when they demand attention to a particular point of fact. The courtroom isn’t where everything happens, but it’s where the most important twists and turns occur. Practically the entire cast has a part to play in the courtroom, the exception being Wilfrid’s typist Greta, played amusingly by Diana George and who is a bit of a fangirl when it comes to her employer’s career, and Carter, his clerk, played in an almost Lerch-like way by Douglas Hubbard. The courtroom itself is managed by Justice Wainwright (Kim Sellick), the judge presiding over the case and the bailiff/clerk played by Curtis Vincent. The pair manage the courtroom well, Curtis’ clerk is efficient and Kim’s Justice Wainwright making sure the attorneys stay on track.
Wilfrid’s client Leonard Vole is played by Nathan (Alis) Hersey in a role that covers a wide range, from his straightforward and calm demeanor when he first approaches Wilfrid to his growing frustration upon being grilled by the prosecution during the trial, maintaining his innocence and baffled as to why he continues to be asked the same questions over and over. Alis’ Leonard is a bit smarmy, but is convincing in his innocence, and in his love for his wife, Romaine, played by Alyssa Hersey. Alyssa’s performance here, in much the same way as previous performances, is the standout of this production. On full display is her command of accents, her ability to portray a character fully and immersively, and her unique expertise at expressing emotion. Alyssa’s performances are an emotional treat to watch and this one is right up there with her best. Her Romaine is hard to figure out, is the bane of Wilfrid’s existence in this tale, and is the driving force behind many of the show’s twists. Another key role in the play is that of Janet Mackenzie, the victim’s maid. Played here by Janet Barton, this character is the last one to have at least heard her boss alive, presumably speaking with the accused. Janet is strong in the role, her disdain for the accused clear and unbridled. Rounding out the primary cast here is Charlie Hamilton as John Mayhew, who works closely with Wilfrid and is the driver behind bringing Vole’s case to the attorney. Scenes with Mayhew and Robarts together provide key insights into the thought process of the defense team, and from a plot perspective, tie everything together. I like Charlie’s performance, his Mayhew is a good counter to and a voice of reason for attorney Robarts. The cast is rounded out by Venessa Acierto as Thomasena Clegg, assistant in Scotland Yard’s forensic laboratory, Paul Goetsch as the very Irish Detective Inspector Hearne, the arresting officer, Sharon Freiboth Greany as Dr. Wyatt, the police surgeon, and Caletta LaPlante as “The Girl”.
The Jewel Box Theatre has a few limitations when it comes to presenting shows like Witness for the Prosecution. With no real backstage area or wings to speak of, it’s a bit challenging to make larger scale set changes. Switching from an attorney’s chambers to a courtroom, and then back again can take time. As a result, the show has opted for two intermissions, a longer one between Acts 1 and 2, and a shorter one before Act 3. The set itself is a good fit for the space, it’s not altogether detailed, but structurally it depicts chambers and the courtroom nicely. And while Jeffrey does double-duty here as actor and director, Sharon Freiboth Greany does the same, acting as Dr. Wyatt and designing the costuming for the show. The costumes are well done, courtroom robes nicely coordinated, as are police uniforms, but the highlights are Romaine Vole’s outfits, seemingly made just to match her personality, as is what Janet Mackenzie wears in court. Again, nothing overly flashy or over the top, but in consistency with the overall design, the costumes are very solid.
Witness for the Prosecution may not feel like standard Agatha Christie, there’s no Hercule Poirot and there’s no gathering of potential suspects only to have them eliminated one by one until the crime is solved. With this courtroom drama, the author more than makes up for it with her depiction of a trial containing more twists and turns than you’ll see on any of the many such programs on TV. With a solid design, and a cast that excels, led by an emotionally superlative performance by Alyssa Hersey and under the direction of Jeffrey Bassett, the Jewel Box production of Witness for the Prosecution could very well leave you wondering whodunit even after the crime has been solved.
Witness for the Prosecution runs on stage at the Jewel Box Theatre in Poulsbo through June 16. For more information, including tickets, visit https://www.jewelboxpoulsbo.org/.
