Old Fort Players welcome "jurors" to next play

FORT MADISON - Area residents are hereby summoned to report for jury (and audience) duty as Old Fort Players presents Agatha Christie’s iconic courtroom drama, “Witness for the Prosecution,” Feb. 20-21, at the OFP theater, 725 Ave. G, Fort Madison.
To comply with the summons, simple reserve your tickets ASAP on OFP’s Facebook Page or the group’s website at oldfortplayers.com; email OFP at oldfortplayerfm@gmail.com; or call Robin Delaney at 319-470-3642. Tickets may also be reserved in person by stopping by the OFP theater 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays or 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Simply give your name, the number of tickets needed, and which show you wish to enjoy. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb 21, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22.
Tickets are $10 for senior citizens, students 18 and younger and military; $15 for general admission; and $25 for the unique VIP section. The VIP section will consist of 2-3 small tables in front of the stage and comes with dessert and BYOB privileges. In addition, VIP ticketholders will serve as the jury and one person can volunteer to take the foreman’s 2-sentence oath. All VIP jurors will render the verdict at the end.
“Witness for the Prosecution” is under the direction of Shelley Dowling who has directed four previous shows and appeared in countless OFP productions.
“I thought this as a good change from our comedies and I’ve always been an Agatha Christie fan,” Dowling said. “This also involves a larger cast than many of our other plays, which I like because it doesn’t place such a burden on one or two people.”

The story centers on a young, naïve man, Leonard Vole (played by Ty Clute of Fort Madison), who is accused of murdering wealthy 56-year-old Emily French that he recently befriended. All the evidence seems to point to the dashing lad and when police discover the wealthy woman made Leonard her primary heir, he is taken into custody.
As Attorney John Mayhew (played by Kaleb Wischmeier of Fort Madison) and the King’s Counsel, Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Joe Collier of Keokuk) work diligently to defend their client against a convincing prosector (played by Fort Madison attorney Kym Auge), they encounter several challenges.
Those challenges include Janet Mackenzie (Karen Schumaker of Fort Madison), the woman’s devoted longtime housekeeper who says she heard her employer and young Leonard in the sitting room just minutes before the coroner’s estimated time of death.  Leonard insists his wife, Romaine (Dawn Eid of Fort Madison) will provide a solid alibi, but his defense team is not so sure when disturbing revelations come to light on the witness stand.
Also taking the witness stand are Inspector Hearne (Rob Nall of Fort Madison), who describes the murder scene; Dr. Wyatt (Jim French of Dallas City, Ill.), a police surgeon with the Hampstead Division who pinpoints the manner and time of death; and Thomasina Clegg (Richar Abel), an assistant with the forensics lab at New Scotland Yard.
Keeping order in the courtroom will be Judge Wainwright (played by Kim Petersen of Dallas City, Ill.) with help from the Clerk of Court (Catherine Nall of Fort Madison) and court usher (Joe St. Clair of Fort Madison).
Rounding out the cast are Sir Wilfrid’s assistant, Carter, (played by David Hults of Fort Madison) his secretary Greta (Sherry Stice of Keokuk) and “the other woman” (Erin Thurman of Fort Madison).
“Witness for the Prosecution” is scripted by Samuel French and made possible through arrangements with Concord Theatricals Corp.