Wimborne Drama Productions Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Anne Waggott 24 October 2024
Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a rich widow to inherit her wealth. The stakes are high. Will Leonard survive the shocking witness testimony? Will he be able to convince the jury – and you – of his innocence and escape the hangman’s noose? Who is telling the truth and who can be trusted? Will the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth ever be revealed?
So many questions, which aren’t fully revealed until the final moments of the play… and which I won’t be revealing in spoilers here!
What isn’t in question, though, is what a slick and professionally performed production this is. In his directorial debut, David Beddard-Banks has ensured gripping performances, with a slick pace, excellent diction, projection and staging, and genuine drama.
On walking into the auditorium, you’re greeted with a seemingly simple set design for a 1930s legal Chambers in front of the curtains, which could lead you into a false sense of what’s to follow, but the grandiose reveal behind the curtains is well deserving of the audible gasp from a virtually full house. Appropriate preset music and pre-show announcement help to set the tone for the rest of the evening – and it’s one that depicts a cracking legal drama, written by the arguable queen of detective fiction, Agatha Christie.
This is a large ensemble cast (the largest being the audience as the jury!), without a weak link amongst the named actors, gelling together to become a cohesive ensemble and yet still maintaining distinctive characters. Their focus is commendable, particularly during long rhetoric from the respective barristers; it’s not easy to maintain that level of concentration on stage when ‘just’ sitting there, listening and watching proceedings!
Sam Moulton is superb as the Prosecution QC, Mr Myers, mesmerising and commanding both the stage and Court with his authoritative and totally convincing performance as an eminent member of the Bar, while Chris Durham is persuasive as his opposite number, Defence QC, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, whether during Court proceedings or in his Chambers.
James Bourner (Leonard) gives multiple dimensions to the accused, whilst Andrea Pellegrini, with impassioned and melodramatic outbursts from the dock, is equally fascinating and expressive as his partner, Romaine. Richard Neal (Mr Justice Wainwright) is also impressive as he controls the Court with equal measures of impartiality and an adherence to the letter of the Law.
Authentic period costumes, legal attire and set dressing, with atmospheric lighting, specific sound effects and particularly suitably dramatic scene changing music, complete the overall ambience. There is a large amount of dialogue to learn and, although I don’t usually ‘approve’ of the use of prompts outside of rehearsal periods, it’s understandable that this facility was used once or twice when possible opening night nerves kicked in. However, there is absolutely no reason to be nervous of this production. My verdict is that this is a splendid production of one of Christie’s most famous and well-loved plays, one that you will not regret seeing, and I thoroughly recommend it to Wimborne’s theatregoers!
Court is in session for Witness For The Prosecution at Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne until Saturday 26 October, 7:30pm each evening, with tickets still available here.