TGtS Reviews Rough Justice

She's back by popular demand! We sent along everyone's favourite theatre lover, Patrica Ledger to review Terence Frisby's gritty court room drama; Rough Justice.

Hear exactly what Patricia had to say about Tom Conti's perforamance below:

I was bowled over last night by this latest offering from The Wyvern Theatre. Courtroom drama has long been a favourite of mine, ever since I watched a copy of the timeless classic 12 Angry Men, and this emotive production enthralled me from the very start.

Tom Conti plays James Highwood, a highly acclaimed investigative journalist who finds himself being charged for the murder of his severely brain-damaged baby. Highwood admits the killing but denies murder, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and acts as his own defence in court. The play becomes a gripping tale of two adversaries in court, - Highwood pleading for a manslaughter verdict versus the prosecuting QC pleading for a murder verdict, plus the succinct interventions of the presiding judge. The arguments for and against are thought provoking and emotive and your heart goes out to the defendant but would a manslaughter verdict set a dangerous precedent, More drama unfolds in scenes with the defendant’s wife involving we the audience with more dilemmas to face.

This is a riveting production with many twists and turns and I would strongly recommend you take yourself along and put yourself in the position of a juror at the trial. I can guarantee you`ll be talking about the verdict and the issues raised long after the show finishes.

Tom Conti`s performance is a pleasure to watch - he masters the character with skill and adroitness and wrings our hearts out. The supporting cast also deserve high acclaim and special mention for the excellent sets.