After The Mousetrap became such a hit in my book, I was excited for the opportunity to experience another Agatha Christie play. This play, Witness for the Prosecution, immediately intrigued me, especially because of its courtroom setting, and I was curious to see how that would unfold. The setting of a stage is one of the most important elements of a production. There are so many types of performance spaces, with different mechanics, limits, and needs. Setting a play in a courtroom gives unique challenges, but also proposes a more immersive experience for the audience, which I truly enjoyed!
The courtroom was large and daunting, and felt less like entering a theater for a show and more like stepping into an actual court hearing, which, I suppose, was the point! One thing that I noticed immediately, especially from my seating position up in the highest stalls, was that I would be able to see the audience’s reaction just as well, if not better, than the actors themselves, which posed quite an interesting sight considering this play held so many unexpected twists and turns.
I went into the show completely blind, knowing nothing beyond the title and the playwright. Because of that, I’ll admit it was a bit difficult to follow at first. My seating arrangement may have also contributed to this, as my view was indeed obstructed by an enormous pillar directly in my line of sight…
Additionally, the male actor playing the man on trial spoke quite quickly and didn’t always fully enunciate his words, which made parts of the dialogue harder to understand. This was all in the first act, though, as in the second one, another woman and I, in a similar position, moved to the two empty seats in the dead center of our stalls with no obstruction and possibly one of the best views in all the theater!
This made for quite a difference in my experience for the second act, also because this is when the story really picked up. The acting was impeccable (besides the fast-talker), and the storyline was gripping. Although most of the play did take place in the courtroom during the “trial,” there were also scenes set in other locations, such as a lounge room, a street by a river, and a house, and I thought those transitions were handled very well. There was even a moment when a character came barging in and shouted from the very stalls where I was sitting, making the experience feel startlingly real. In that moment, it felt less like I was watching a play and more like I was witnessing an actual trial as a spectator. (Also worth mentioning, the “jury” was also audience members sitting in special seats!) This choice also made the play’s themes and commentary even more effective, raising questions about how we perceive people, whether those judgments are truly accurate, and what the cost can be when they are not. We were faced with the same questions as the characters.
The entire second half kept me on the edge of my seat, and by the end, my jaw was practically on the floor. Without spoiling anything, I can honestly say I did not see the ending coming. The way the show unfolded proved not only how incredible the actors were, but also how often we encounter “actors” in everyday life.
To have a great story is one thing, but to bring it to life in such a powerful place and with such talented individuals makes it something quite special. I think that Agatha Christie would be quite proud of this performance, and I enjoyed it very much!
Best,
Siena
Theatre in London U of A 