‘Witness for the Prosecution’ at Domino, aka the Night I Went to a Murder Trial For Fun
I went to a murder trial for fun. Or at least that is what it felt like. I had the pleasure of seeing Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution on opening night, and I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to walk into such a buzzing room. Domino Theatre was almost packed, full of people who clearly knew their Christie. Once invited into the theatre, the room felt charged while waiting for the lights to dim.
Now, this Christie classic starts simple enough. A young man is accused of murdering a rich older woman, though how the two are connected isn’t clear at first. You think you know where it’s heading, and then suddenly you don’t. That’s the charm of this script. Christie lets you feel clever for about five minutes.
The show begins with some playful banter from secretaries Greta (Lauren Beazley) and Mrs Carter (Nicole Benishek) that got the audience laughing right away. It’s light and serves as the perfect warm-up before the real drama begins.
Martin Fobert as Leonard Vole, the man accused of murder, is utterly magnetic. You can see the fear under his charm and the tiny flickers of panic that make him so watchable. When he’s anxious, I catch myself holding my breath. When he exhales, I do too. Barry Yeun brings a wonderful energy to the defense lawyer, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, QC. He is sharp and confident. And then there’s Eva Hayes as Romaine. She’s impossible to pin down, which is exactly what you don’t want from a witness. One moment she seems sweet and, the next, pure ice. You can feel the audience hanging onto her every word.
Doug McNichol, who plays the court usher, deserves a nod too. With each walk on stage, he eases the tension a little and the room relaxes. That kind of timing is such a gift.
Somewhere in the second act, the legal drama clicks into place and the plot begins to unravel as each witness is called. The courtroom scenes are tight, the dialogue is quick, and the tension is delicious. At one point I noticed a couple near me leaning so far forward I thought they might fall off their seats. There’s something so fun about watching people try to solve a mystery before the characters do.
And the world built by the crew deserves appreciation too. Grant Buckler’s set design uses the space at Domino excellently. The courtroom set feels sturdy and believable, like you could walk right up and take a seat in the witness box. The paintwork is rich, and the scene transitions are clean and quiet, which is no small feat in a community theatre space. The skill of the builders and painters is definitely evident.
Anne-Marie Kooimen’s costumes pull their weight too. The lawyers look polished and self-assured in their crisp robes. The dresses and shoes fit the era just right. Nothing feels fake or too perfect. Everyone looks like they belong to this world, and that helps the story settle deeper. Making the audience feel a part of this, Lorna Jodoin’s sound design has an immersive feel it brings to the show.
There were one or two tiny hiccups. A forgotten line with a nudge from a fellow castmate. A sound effect that landed a bit too loud. But honestly, I kind of like that. It reminds me that theatre is live. It’s not supposed to be flawless.
One thing that really struck me was how intimate the whole experience felt. The way the stage is arranged makes you feel part of the trial. You’re not just watching; you’re sitting in judgment, waiting to decide if this man is guilty. It pulls you in with thoughtful direction and a good sense of space.
By the time we reached the ending, the room had gone completely still. Everyone was holding their breath. Then came the twist, and Christie did what she always does best. The lights faded, and the applause was quick and loud. I saw a few people shaking their heads, laughing, still trying to process what they’d just seen.
Walking out, I felt that nice kind of dazed you get after a story that keeps you guessing until the last second. Witness for the Prosecution is a classic for a reason, and Domino’s version does it proud. It’s sharp, funny, and so well-done. It reminded me why I love theatre. You’re not just an observer sitting in the dark. You’re part of it, feeling every twist right alongside them. This is definitely one to catch.
‘Witness for the Prosecution’ will be playing at Domino Theatre until November 1st, 2025. Tickets and more information can be found here.
