Ignoring the advice of his solicitor (David Michaels), Highwood chooses to represent himself in court, where he pleads to manslaughter rather than murder. His efforts to make the court understand his actions bring him on a collision course with the pro-life Catholic Prosecutor, Margaret Casely, QC (Elizabeth Payne).
Conti is superb in his portrayal of the confident and well-known public figure, challenging the prosecutor at every opportunity and enraging the Judge (Royce Mills) with his contempt of court, but who nevertheless is capable of heart-wrenching vulnerability when he allows the court to see the real man beneath. Frisby’s clever script provides moments of comedy in the verbal jousting between defendant, prosecutor and Judge which relieve, but never dilute, the human tragedy and the complex ethical issues the trial raises.
There are other notable performances from this excellent cast. Payne is brilliant as the Rottweiler-like QC seeking to get at the truth and secure a conviction, yet at times revealing a chink of humanity. Mills’ depiction of the Judge’s descent from avuncular and rather patronising to furious rage as he tries to keep order between the defendant and QC is both believable and comic. This together with Michaels’ body language and expressions as the hapless Solicitor in an impossible situation, lighten what could have been a relentlessly grim story.The excellent set and atmospheric lighting is enhanced by the intimate feel of the Oxford Playhouse making it feel that we, the audience, are the jury. At times a communal intake of breath signified total engagement with the trial. This is not a simple case of establishing guilt – Highwood has already admitted he did it. What it does is to bring to the fore the often frightening atmosphere in a British court with its formal wigs and gowns and complicated processes. It also highlights the responsibility and control that a jury has over the life of the defendant before them.
As the curtain dropped there was a stunned silence before the audience erupted into rapturous applause. This is a ‘must see’ play which will leave you wondering what your verdict would have been.