Review: PRIMA FACIE by Kavanah Productions and BRAVE theatre

Director: Lyndee-Jane Rutherford

The best play I have seen in Wellington.

Prima Facie was first produced by Griffin Theatre Company in May 2019 at the SBW Stables Theatre in Sydney Australia.

It was famously performed at the West End in 2022, with the title role being played by Jodie Comer (Killing Eve,) where it was recorded for NT Live and shown in theatres around the world. The production then transferred to Broadway in Spring of 2023, earning Jodie the Tony Award for Best Actress in a play.

A relatively full house was transfixed on a single actor (Mel Dodge) for 100 minutes. You could have heard a pin drop, such was the expertise of the actor involved. She held us transfixed for the duration, with superb storytelling skills and great physicality.

The set is very simple with three raised platforms a chair and a screen in the background that cracked as the story unfolded and the actor's world begins to unravel.

The story is a relatively simple one, a criminal lawyer who delights in getting her clients off, often at the expense of the victims of the crime, finds herself the victim and the tables are turned.

Mel plays many characters in the show and uses voice and physicality to portray each.

Expertly directed and acted, this is the best play I have seen in Wellington.

Lighting was very good, with the use of shadows particularly effective.

Actor was unmiked and her projection was even and easily heard.

The video wall was used sparingly but effectively as the cracks begin and continue to appear in our lawyers life.

A stunning performance and an excellent story produced a top class show that Wellingtonians should not miss. 

This is a return season.  I saw the original run and had to return to see it again,. That's how good it is.

To post a comment, you must register and login.