“Witness for the Prosecution”

The Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council has some great Spring, Summer and Fall events planned with lots of drama, music and comedy which you’re gonna love!

This Spring it’s about drama, and there is no better than one of the most celebrated courtroom dramas of all time, “Witness for the Prosecution“, to be held at the Goodnight Auditorium in Franklin, KY on April 28th, 29th, & 30^th.   “The Witness for the Prosecution” is a short story and play by British author Agatha Christie. The story was initially published as “Traitor Hands” in 1925. In 1933, the story was published for the first time as “Witness for the Prosecution” and in 1948, was finally published in the United States.

When Leonard Vole, a poor, out of work, struggling inventor is arrested for the sensational murder of a lonely and wealthy widowed acquaintance, Emily French, the famous attorney, Wilfrid Robarts, agrees to appear on his behalf.  The initial evidence is circumstantial but points to the charming Vole as the murderer. Despite being happily married to East German, Romaine Vole, he fostered the friendship with Miss French in the hopes that she would finance one of his many inventions.  It does not help his case when it is learned that Miss French changed her will prior to her murder with Vole being the primary beneficiary of a very large estate. Leonard states that he knew nothing about the will.  Romaine is apparently the only alibi Leonard has to his whereabouts at the time of the murder. The usual methods Robarts uses to test his clients’ guilt or innocence leads to him believing that Vole is indeed innocent. As the trial progresses, the prosecution calls a surprise witness, one that could place a nail in the coffin of Robarts’ planned line of defense. As he gets deeper and deeper into the case, something doesn’t quite sit right with him, although he doesn’t know what it is. The primary questions become how far Robarts will go to obtain evidence to acquit Vole and if he will ever discover why he feels that there is something odd about the case.

The play will be directed by Barbara Shriver who has also directed Love Letters, Barefoot in the Park and A Raisin in the Sun for the F-S Arts Council.  Advance tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.  Tickets will go on sale March 28^th and will be available at The Gallery on the Square in downtown Franklin, 270-586-8055 or on-line at www.franklinsimpsonarts.org .