In this classic 1953 Agathie Christie whodunnit, Daniel Felkai plays the defendant Leonard Vole, on trial for the murder of a rich elderly woman at the legendary Old Bailey, who suffers the torture of seeing his beautiful young woman Romaine (Penny Morgan) step into the witness box, as a witness for the prosecution, and provide damning evidence against him to the court.
Genesian patrons love their murder mysteries and they particularly love them presented in a conventional, old fashioned way, just like in the current production directed by Henry Jennings.
With the opening of the theatre’s plush velvet curtains, the audience is greeted by Owen Gimblett’s meticulously detailed period set of a London barrister’s chambers. The play shifts between two sets, the other being the Old Bailey court room, again finely detailed by Gimblett.
The cast are dressed in period costumes (Susan Carveth) and most of the actresses have donned wigs for the production. The acting style is a little on the hammy side, however entertaining enough. Rod Stewart played the Judge as a dotty, jovial character. Sheree da Costa as Janet MacKenzie made the most of her scene in the witness box as the murdered woman’s vindictive carer.
As the two adversaries in court, Elizabeth MacGregor as the Crown Prosecutor, Myers and Barry Moray as he Defence Counsel, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, were believable court room combatants.
Olivia Thorburn Corr showed some nice touches as Sir Wilfrid’s run off her feet secretary, Greta.
Daniel Felkai impressed as Leonard Vole though a more under-stated approach would have helped at times. His constant fidgeting in the dock was over-stated and a distraction.
Penny Morgan, coming home fresh from acting studies in London and Los Angeles, grabs the mantle of her plum role with a zesty, feisty performance as the many sided Romaine, famously played by Marlene Dietrich in Billy Wilder’s film version.
Christie’s play has dated more than a little. The arguments put up in court that people shouldn’t trust the words of foreigners…I don’t think it would hold much sway in a current sitting at the Old Bailey!
An entertaining night at the theatre, Henry Jennings’s production of Agathie Christie’s WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION opened at the Genesian Theatre, 420 King Street, Sydney on Saturday 8th September and runs until Saturday 20th October, 2012.
(c) David Kary
12th September, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, Genesian Theatre, Agathie Christie, Henry Jennings, Daniel Felkai, Barry Morai, Rod Stewart, Susan Carveth, Olivia Thorburn Corr, Elizabeth Macgregor, Owen Gimblett, Grant Fraser, Sydney Arts Guide, David Kary