Copyright © 2015 Chiltern Players
Chiltern Players
Verdict
By Agatha Christie
Passion, murder and love are the deadly ingredients in Verdict, making it one of Agatha Christie's more unusual thrillers and prompting her to label it 'the best play I have written with the exception of Witness for the Prosecution'.
The action centres around the uncompromising academic Karl Hendryk, his intense disabled wife, Anya and his loyal assistant, Lisa. As the secrets of Karl’s background gradually unfold, a crime takes place which is to alter the lives of all the characters bound up with him. An intriguing play with many twists and turns.
Verdict premiered at the Strand Theatre London on 22nd May 1958 and was attended by Agatha Christie herself. Unfortunately it was booed by the gallery on its first night due to a lighting cue misunderstanding which caused the curtain to come down on the final scene about 40 seconds too soon. Fortunately Chiltern Player's production did not suffer the same fate.
Cast
Lester Cole - Tim House
Mrs Roper - Jill Kendal
Lisa Koletzky - Jane Brough
Professor Karl Hendryk - Peter O'Sullivan
Doctor Stoner - Tim Wellington
Anya Hendryk - Di Soden
Helen Rollander - Tiffany Saul
Sir William Rollander - Roger Kendal
Detective Inspector Ogden - Peter Smithson
Police Sergeant Pearce - Ian Brough
Directed by - Rosemary House
