POWAY, California — Thank you PowPac Theatre for bringing us Witness for the Prosecution, the edgy murder mystery penned in 1925 by Dame Agatha Christie. While I am not quite certain the author would recognize her play with PowPac’s treatment and influence, I do think she would have loved the performance I saw last weekend. This tiny theater is never intimidated or put off by cast size, provocative themes, or adopting accents.
The play is set in England during the 1950s and involves viewers in the trial of young Leonard Vole (Raymond Evans), suspected of the murder of the wealthy “elderly” Emily French, whom he’d recently befriended. His wife, German national, Romaine (Julie Clemmons), is his only hope of escaping a guilty verdict. Thanks to his determined and clever defense attorney, Sir Wilfred Robarts (Geoffrey Graeme), and his sidekick Mayhew (John Martin), the defense constructs an arguable case. Prosecutor, Miss Myers (Susan Branch) encounters disdain from both her adversary as well as Judge Wainwright (D. Kevin McGuinness) as she attempts to prove Mr. Vole’s guilt and motive for murder.
Other standout roles and actors include French’s companion, Janet MacKensie (Amy Dell). Her testimony was at once endearing and irritating as she screeched about the “prisoner’s” demonic intentions and the injustice of having been removed from her employer’s will. Greta (Maegan Gephart), Robarts’ secretary injects levity and mischief onto the stage. Rounding out the cast, the serious Dr. Wyatt (Guyren Howe), expressive Clerk (Tami O’Connell), Inspector Hearne (Anne Schreiber), and Warden (Charisse Zeff) pull off effective performances punctuated by eye-rolling, mugging, or voice manipulation.
Director Kira Blaskovich intentionally selected this play for its apt revelation of the human spirit replete with idiosyncrasies, biases, and foibles. She chose to exaggerate themes of gender stereotypes by assigning women to the roles of the arresting officers, and showing that Vole’s wife was stoic and unemotional during the police interview. These adaptations also served to bring the play into the 21st century.
I know last night’s audience was unprepared for the ending and on the drive home, I kept turning over the plot points in my mind. A very enjoyable evening and vast appreciation for a very talented cast.
Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com
Nice review. Makes me want to see it!