A thriller-drama which was a compelling watch as this production proved.
Visitors to this production were given a taste of jury duty via the Jeffrey Archer Play, which dealt with a leading barrister’s alleged murder of his terminally ill wife and all the evidence was addressed to the audience as to a jury. Sir David Metcalfe, the barrister in question, was played in a beautifully measured manner by Mark Aspland. He was locked in a legal battle with his old rival, Anthony Blair-Booth QC, portrayed crisply and assertively by Mark Wood. The tension between the two was palpable. The general formality of the courtroom was relieved by the appearance of Mrs Rogers, the Metcalfes’ housekeeper, played beautifully by Nicky Mawer. Mrs Rogers claimed she had heard her employers quarrelling and saw Sir David give his wife fatal medication, both of which he denied.
The second act took us back to the fateful night at the Metcalfes’ house where we saw what actually happened and how ideas of truth can vary. Teresa Quigly gave a totally credible and sensitive interpretation of Lady Metcalfe and Tony Price was charmingly eccentric as family friend, solicitor Lionel Hamilton.