THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411160177
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury - is Karen Andre guilty or not guilty of the murder of Bjorn Faulkner?
That is for the volunteer jurors to decide, men and women who enter Franklin High School to watch a Franklin Little Theatre production.
On the way in, the bailiff takes their names. Once seated, 12 of those names are drawn.
Then there are 12 empty seats in the auditorium, 12 occupied in the onstage jury box.
They listen to the district attorney, the defense attorney, witnesses expert and otherwise, then withdraw to make their decision.
If they deem Andre guilty, the audience will hear one ending - if innocent, another.
``Night of January 16th'' is often done in a courtroom, but the setting in the Franklin High School auditorium looks convincing enough.
The drama, written by Ayn Rand and directed in Franklin by Bill Hiltner, has been a little theater staple for many decades. Sometimes the DA wins, sometimes the defense.
``I have a better case,'' claims Kevin Tuck, who portrays District Attorney Flint. ``I've got strong witnesses - professional and eyewitnesses. I have witnesses who saw Karen Andre throw Bjorn Faulkner off the roof.''
The defense?
``My witnesses dispute every so-called fact,'' says Beth Briggs, who portrays the defense attorney. ``My client loved the victim and had no motive for murder.''
Since this play/murder trial has a three-day run, beginning tonight, it will be interesting to find out who wins most often.
Before the production gets to that point, plenty goes on in the courtroom, a la ``Perry Mason.''
Bobby Snead remembers.
He was in ``Night of January 16th'' when it was presented in the downtown courthouse in Franklin 25 years ago, the initial production of the Franklin Little Theatre.
Herbert Cobb, who portrays the bailiff, appeared in the play in 1935 when he was a student at the College of William and Mary.
Ironically, Cobb portrayed police officer Elmer Sweeney, the character now portrayed by Snead. MEMO: Franklin Little Theatre presents ``Night of January 16th'' at 8 p.m.
today, Friday and Saturday in the Franklin High School auditorium.
Tickets are $6 and are available at Audio Showroom, Jones Drug and
Parker Drug in Franklin and the Peanut Patch in Courtland. For more
information, call 653-2572. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Inga Francis, center, portrays a judge in ``Night of January 16th.''
Beth Briggs, left, is the defense attorney, and Kevin Tuck is the
district attorney.
by CNB