Whodunit takes fun spin at OFP

FORT MADISON - A variety of veteran and novice actors make up the cast for the iconic Agatha Christie courtroom drama and mystery, “Witness for the Prosecution,” that will take the Old Fort Players stage with very fitting sponsorship from the Feheske & Gray Law Firm in Fort Madison.  While Christie’s classic comes with its own endless stream of twists and turns, OFP is adding another by presenting the British version of the play, complete with tribunal wigs and black robes.
The whodunit will debut at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, with additional shows at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, and at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 – all at the OFP theater, located at 725 Av. G, Fort Madison.
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.
On the list of those challenges are 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 Peterson 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).
The jury will be comprised of those with front-row VIP tickets who will play the most crucial role - delivering the verdict. (Ticket details to announced soon.)
Under the direction of Shelley Dowling, assisted by Robin Delaney, “Witness for the Prosecution” is scripted by Samuel French and made possible through arrangements with Concord Theatricals Corp.