Review: Witness for the Prosecution**

At Leeds Grand Theatre

Witness for the Prosecution began life as a short story and at times one is given to wonder if it should have stayed that way.

Instead author Agatha Christie, on the advice of a West End producer, turned it into rather dusty, fusty and static courtroom drama that lacks pace and is cluttered with overly long chunks of dialogue.

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Although the plot is laced with the usual twists and turns, it's only in the final stages of the play that we witness the suspense and melodramatic magic that we have come to expect from Christie.

The story centres around Leonard Vole, accused of murdering an elderly woman, who recently made him the beneficiary to her considerable estate. The proof of his innocence hinges on his wife's testimony, until the sudden appearance of a mysterious young woman changes the whole cycle of events with startling consequences.

To say this work is a challenge for the cast is an understatement. For it rests solely with them to overcome the pitfalls and turn this slow, wordy and dull work into a piece of believable theatre – and they do it superbly.

With a brilliant characterisation of Sir Wilfrid Robarts, the QC for the defence Dennis Lill drives the production from the outset and even manages to inject some wonderful humorous touches into the role.

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Mark Wynter and Peter Byrne's interpretation of the prosecuting barrister and judge are excellent and are instrumental in moving the production along.

Deborah Grant portrays Romaine magnificently showing just how far a wife will go to keep the man she loves; while Ben Nealon as Vole gets the balance of sympathy, love and eventually hate of his character exactly right.

It's not the best of Christie's work but it's the chance to see some superb acting from a truly talented cast.

To September 4.

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