Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Peridot opened 2011 with Geoffrey Archer’s courtroom drama Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

QC Sir David Metcalfe, on trial for murder of his terminally ill wife, is being prosecuted by his old rival Anthony Blair-Booth QC.

The opening court room set was simple yet very effective with black curtains at stage rear, the judge’s seat centre stage, and the witness box stage right. A table and two chairs were placed at each side of the stage for the defendant, the prosecutor and their respective assistants.

The second half, before the verdict, plays out the lead up to the case in flash back. The set, Sir David Metcalfe’s lounge room, was well done; three walls with paintings, furnished with a piano, a small bar, a centre coffee table, an antique phone, a sofa and matching chairs.

Raleigh Robinson gave an imposing portrayal of the judge, Mr Justice Tredwell. Cameron South’s good stage appearance and wonderful delivery suited the character of prosecutor Anthony Blair-Booth QC, in a first class performance.

Brian Smith projected well as the accused, Sir David Metcalfe QC, but in some scenes your correspondent felt he shouted and lost his temper too much, particularly considering that he was an old hand in court, unlikely to go to such extremes. In Act Two he gave a wonderful portrayal of a devoted husband and shared a great rapport with Vanessa Bate as the terminally ill Lady Millicent Metcalfe. In a wonderful portrayal, Bate captured the inner strength of the character with finesse, not letting on her pain except in private, and showing no evidence of her agonies to her friends. 

Jackie Hutchison played Mrs Rogers, the Metcalfe’s housekeeper and main witness for the prosecution. She detested Sir David, who also had no time for her. Hutchison captured the character most realistically in a great performance, really making one believe that she was Rogers. The Metcalfe’s doctor and family friend Dr Jonathon Weedon was well portrayed, as an understanding character. James McRae played the family solicitor, Lionel Hampton, capturing the essence of a man privy to a family secret he would rather not have known. His good stage projection added to the standard of the evening.

Other minor roles were all up to a high standard, giving the audience a good evening of theatre.

A good omen for the 2011 season at Peridot.  

Peter Kemp