The Verdict started its life as a bestselling novel, a courtroom drama written in 1980 by Barry Reed. It was subsequently turned into a film starring Paul Newman, which was nominated for five Oscars. Now, in this adaptation by Margaret May Hobbs, one man’s day in court becomes an audience’s night at the theatre.
The Verdict follows down-and-out lawyer Frank Galvin (Jason Merrells, in a steady well-rendered performance) an alcoholic who has recently separated from his wife and lost his passion for law. His colleague kindly gives him a medical malpractice suit that’s sure to settle quickly out of court for a reasonable sum. But Galvin smells a cover-up. The case involves a routine birth gone wrong, with the mother, Debbie, now left in a permanently vegetative state, and a hospital that adamantly denies any wrongdoing. After meeting with Debbie’s mother and visiting Debbie in the hospital, Galvin decides that he must get this family the justice they deserve.
Galvin faces down a self-serving judge, a slimy lawyer (a charismatic Nigel Barber), his own childhood demons, personal betrayal, and even the opposition of Debbie’s own family, in his quest to do what’s right. You can see why the Academy Awards went wild for this plot: it’s a very noble, straightforward David and Goliath story. Middle Ground Theatre’s production is steadfastly loyal to this ethos and delivers a polished, considered take.
The first half of the show sets the scene and builds tension as Galvin traipses between work, a local bar and some tense meetings, while the second half takes place at the trial, falling into a classic courtroom drama. The audience I saw the production with was clearly gripped from beginning to end and gasped audibly at the show's twists and especially hard-hitting lines. At over two and a half hours runtime, whether you find the play epic or simply overlong will be a matter of personal taste.
The previous sentence may also ring true for verdicts on the play overall. It’s a very sincere, self-contained story of one man’s turning point, of good vs evil, of the underdog triumphing through an impassioned plea to the hearts of the public. The cynic in me wanted to kick it in the shin - I feel a bit detached from this sort of individualistic optimism. But I was clearly in the minority here and if you enjoy a classic heroic tale or an impassioned courtroom drama, I’d say you’re in for a treat.