I’m a bit breathless
Prima Facie , the filmed play by Suzie Miller has left me thoughtful and somewhat shaken .
A one woman show, it has Jodie Comer playing, Tessa an incredibly successful criminal barrister in London. Tessa has made good from her working class Liverpudlian roots and by using every trick in her considerable arsenal she has proved herself to be especially adept in defending men in sexual assault cases. Now Tessa clearly proclaims that she always works to prove the legal truth in her cases and this is a game to point out the holes in the prosecutions case and this game is a game she is good at.
However, when she is assaulted herself, by a potential boyfriend who is also a successful barrister, she is left to fight a paternalistic legal system weighted against her as a woman.
Comer is truly remarkable as Tessa. With real Liverpudlian timing she hits her delivery with true machine gun zeal and that pace is maintained full speed for two hours straight.
I couldn’t quite believe she maintained the pace and the emotion throughout
Stunning.
Quite Stunning
I've just got back from seeing it too. Stunning,as you say.
ReplyDeleteThe end was slightly preachy but comer was stunning
DeleteI saw excellent reviews of this when it first opened. I'd love to see it.
ReplyDeleteI recommend it x
DeleteGood to read a really good review from you John - not often we get one these days.
ReplyDeleteI so adore good theatre x
DeleteI do not doubt your assessment or other reviews that it's an excellent play, but I have trouble believing that a female criminal defence lawyer who knows the legal system, how it operates in these kind of cases and who uses it to successfully defend clients would all of a sudden be shocked and appalled by how it treats her once she becomes a victim on the other side of the case, so to speak. Unless she actually did not understand in the first place (or chose not to understand) the true nature, basis and history of sexual assault law. I could perhaps see a male lawyer finding himself in that position, but not a female one. Hopefully, one day I'll see this play for myself and will be better able to assess its premises.
ReplyDeleteYes I get your point
DeleteThe play balances the researched information that female victims often recall much about the specifics of the assault but lose the peripheral information leading up to it
It’s the peripheral information that is often made advantage of by the defence
Tessa , despite her experience , gets lost in the way the law and the courts act , only finding her feet , just that little but too late
The whole circumstances of the assault could be viewed as very ambiguous which complicates the narrative debra
DeleteI have not heard of it, but it sounds interesting. I can't imagine a woman striving to be a success in that field however.
ReplyDeleteReally ? I find that interesting
DeleteIt sounds a very intense play. Jodie Comer is an excellent actor. The legal system, like many things, is very male orientated and biased. Would a man who was sexually assaulted be questioned about what he was wearing and his past sexual history? I doubt it. xx
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting because it covered just was expected from the defence
DeleteJohn I am quite excited. Today on a local South Australian beach I met my first Welsh Terrier and she was gorgeous. Apparently they are not easy to get here. Such a lovely little dog.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad. They have a special quality about them , gentle , intelligent and they sit and watch
DeleteJodie Comer is an amazing actress, Sounds like "Prima Facie" must be very draining - with full emotional and physical energy required throughout the show. I would love to see that.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was all too much at first
DeleteIt became a little preachy at the end but a strong piece of drama
One of the reasons I never practiced criminal law, was I was afraid I would convict the innocent, or find a way out for the guilty.
ReplyDeleteA question Tessa is asked several times , she kept repeating it wasn’t her job to judge just to defend
DeleteShe is an amazing actress, and possibly one of the few younger actresses able to carry off what sounds like such a draining performance for that length of time, and night after night.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. The sheer length of the piece was impressive
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