★★★★

Reviewer -Hollie

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

The Verdict contains themes of depression and alcoholism. The show also contains strong language.

Based on the bestselling courtroom thriller by Barry Reed, the multi Academy Award-Nominated film from the 1980s has been brought to theatres around the country as part of a national tour.

Starring Jason Merrells (Emmerdale, Casualty and Cutting it) as the protagonist Frank, a deadbeat and stubborn lawyer with many of his own personal struggles, is presented with the biggest case of his career.

The scene is set prior to the show with the backdrop of Frank’s office in Boston where Frank is carrying out menial tasks and shows aspects of his different personalities based on who he is talking to and by holding his head in his hands whilst a bottle of wine sits on his desk. The audience gets the impression that Frank is a broken and damaged man hard on his luck with his past history weighing him down.

Frank is presented with a medical malpractice case in which he would be up against medical professionals in court and nobody thinks he can win. As an alternative he is presented with an out of court settlement which he refuses, much to the dismay of the plaintiff’s mother. Frank decides to take his chance and fight for justice.

Throughout the case, Frank is supported and mentored by father figures Eugene and Moe. Michael Lunney and Vincent Pirillo through their portrayal of these characters show Frank’s vulnerability but dedication to his career. The camaraderie is clear between these three characters and actors and through interacting with each other this provides a continuation of sarcastic and dry humour that the audience enjoyed throughout the show.

The case is told through the authentic scenery, excellent acting and the unsaid words or implied messages. Jason Merrells’ superb acting allows for the audience to sympathise with Frank throughout the performance to see whether this case and his story has a happy ending.

In the second act the case comes to a head in the courtroom where the audience are spoken to as if they are the jury. The audience is subjected to the whole court case and cross-examination with some surprising twists and turns!

The second act provides insight into the two sides of the case with the opposing sides working and scheming in very different ways. With his swagger and his hands in his pockets, Frank questions his expert witness Lionel Thompson played by Okon Jones who provides some witty answers and laughs. There are some strong female protagonists played by Reanne Farley, Holly Jackson Walters and Sarah Shelton, who in the second act strongly show the power of women and how the case wouldn’t be the same without them!

So who is telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

The show will continue touring across the U.K. until July 2023 at theatres including: Bath Theatre Royal, The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin and Oxford Playhouse.