London’s County Hall, as the home of the Greater London Council until 1986, has long been a boiling pot for fierce encounters, strong argument and the unpredictable. But never before has it faced such a serious case. Witness for the Prosecution has summoned me for jury service, and I dutifully obliged.
Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution follows the case of Leonard Vole, who is facing a trial for the murder of a well-off local woman. Vole faces a mountain of evidence against him, from the servant Janet Mackenzie, forensic investigation and tough prosecution lawyer, Mr Myers Q.C., whilst he has only his own testimony to rely on and a sole witness – his wife Romaine Vole. Determined to use the case to further his rivalry with Mr Myers, defence lawyer Sir Wilfrid Robarts Q.C. takes Vole on, believing him to be an unfortunate victim of circumstantial evidence. But come the trial, Vole and Robarts must face the unanticipated, with an unexpected prosecution witness set to turn the entire case upside down.
Before I get into the production itself, I have to talk about the staging of this production in County Hall. The show takes place in the council chamber, where the GLC used to sit, and audiences are seated in the actual chairs used by politicians (I myself was sat in a seat with “Thank Mrs. Thatcher. She is the greatest” written on the table). This makes the production feel incredibly intimate and works very well to pull you into the story. 12 members of the audience also find themselves in the jury, who are sworn in and get to deliver a verdict during the show. The use of the space is done extremely well, with the dock and other elements appearing from within the stage (and the choreography associated with set transitions is very smooth and amazingly synchronised). The subject matter itself is dark and twisted but engaging – a real Christie classic!
Sir Wilfrid Robarts Q.C. is played by Jo Stone-Fewings and plays a very strong angle leading the defence. He gives a stunning performance and plays passive, aggressive and powerful moments with such ease, as if he has been in court all his life. He knows how to land this part and is a force to be reckoned with. But the most intriguing performance comes from Madeleine Walker as Romaine Vole. Vole’s character, who delivers the line in our title within minutes of being introduced, is clever, dark and unpredictable, which Walker takes and runs with it. Her portrayal of this character is simply stunning. Whenever she is in the room, eyes are locked on her and onto every word she says. She has the entire courtroom on her every movement, enchantingly powerful, cunning and commanding.
Witness for the Prosecution stands as a dark horse in the current London theatre scene, but one that looks like it’s here to stay, and I am so glad that it is. Seeing this Christie classic done so well in such a fitting venue is a great experience, and one that I hope to return to again soon. If you get the chance to get down to the courtroom, go and seek truth and justice at County Hall. No further questions, your honour.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Witness for the Prosecution is currently playing at London County Hall
