BWW Reviews: Trial After the NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH

NIGHT OF JANUARY 16TH is the title of the play by Ayn Rand (Adapted by Nathaniel Edward Reeid) that Stage Coach Theatre is currently producing. It is also my mother's birthday. I went to the play not knowing what to expect. I knew it was a play where the audience is the jury and chooses the verdict. I also knew that there are different endings for each one that can be chosen. (I wonder if there is an ending for a "hung jury".)

This is a large cast show, there are 17 characters: 2 lawyers, 1 judge, a court reporter, 1 defendant, 2 accusers, and 10 witnesses. With so many people, you will definitely need to pay attention, you may even want to take notes. You don't want to make the wrong choice of Guilty, or Not Guilty.

Karen Andre is the former secretary of Bjorn Faulkner who is accused of murdering him by pushing him off the penthouse of one of the tallest buildings in the world (1930's and the Empire State Building had just been completed). He was recently married, so maybe it was his widow - or her father. You will have to go to Stage Coach Theatre to see the evidence that is put before you and place your vote.

It was so nice to see so many cast members and it felt like there were either many new faces or at least, many faces that haven't been seen in a while. That is something that is always exciting to see.

If you want to have a fun night, with exciting and speculative discussions during intermission (although you are ordered by the judge not to - you know you will) then this is a show to see.