Beyond Reasonable Doubt

This difficult and challenging play by Jeffrey Archer requires a very strong good cast to be successful.  This company had such a cast  and were able to present a superb production that combined the best attributes of a Dramatic society  i.e. dedication, concentration and team work from both those on stage and backstage.  The 1st Act at the Old Bailey where Sir David Metcalfe, acting as his own Defence Counsel (a polished performance by Mike Sutton) is on trial for the murder of his wife Lady Millicent Metcalfe (a very sympathetic and moving performance by Deborah Simpkin),  the Prosecuting Counsel Anthony Blair-Booth ( an accomplished performance by Gavin Jones) with Mr. Justice Treadwell (Robert Wardle adding the proper expertise to the role of the Judge) were the main characters in the play.   The rest of the cast, mainly in cameo roles as witnesses for both the Defence and the Prosecution, were well drawn.  Every character was well thought out, had  good projection  and characterisation. The sets, first the Old Bailey and the second, in a flash back as to what happened at the home of the Metcalfes during the previous months, were excellent, looked good and worked efficiently.  The production was excellent and great credit goes to all the cast for a fine and moving performance which left the audience, as the jury, with a dilemma - was he guilty or not guilty .

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