โ โ โ โ โ | Witness for the Prosecution, County Hall, London
Depending on your age and/or love of black and white films, you may know Witness for the Prosecution from the classic 1957 film with Charles Laughton and the divine Marlene Dietrich. No? Maybe you saw the recent BBC adaptation with Kim Cattrall as the murder victim, wealthy Emily French? No? Well, either way, youโre in for a treat. Even if you already know the deliciously cunning twists in this courtroom drama, youโre going to be knocked for six by the production.
1950’s London and personable working class chap Leonard Vole is up before the courts, accused of bludgeoning to death a lonely (and rich) older woman in her St Johnโs Wood home. Things arenโt looking good for Leonard, especially as sheโd just changed her will in his favour, and the gallows are looming. His only alibi is from his glamorous and frosty Teutonic wife, Romaine but will she vouch for him in court and help his cause or are things about to take a more complicated turn?
Agatha Christieโs dramas are often wrongly seen as somewhat twee and cosy; the stuff of Sunday afternoons with a nice cup of tea. Here, you get to see Christieโs dark mind in all its sinister glory in a blood-splattered tale that is horrifying at times. OK so thereโs the usual parade of thinly sketched and clichรฉd characters but thatโs part of Christieโs charm too.
One of the big draws of this production is the staging. Set in a courtroom, here we see it staged as authentically as is possible as weโre inโฆyesโฆa courtroom. Well, almost. Itโs a debating chamber inside the sumptuous, disused, Art Deco County Hall (at the back of the London Eye, behind the aquarium) and itโs convincing. You could almost be in the public gallery watching the drama unfold. Itโs high drama and more than a tad camp as thereโs a soundscape of echoing footsteps, clanging doors and assorted gasps. Itโs a thrill ride of chilling and thrilling twisty-turning fun.
Forget The Mousetrap, Leave that for the West End tourists and head down to Westminster for a rare treat.
Witness for the Prosecution plays at County Hall until 11th of March 2018