
DATE: Thursday, May 1, 1997                 TAG: 9704300146

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THEATER REVIEW 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   72 lines

SMITHFIELD LITTLE THEATRE'S `WITNESS' HAS EXPERIENCED CAST

In the movies, Marlon Brando has his lines written all over everything. At the Smithfield Little Theatre it's Al Bell.

In 1973, Bell portrayed the defense attorney in ``Witness For the Prosecution.''

``He had his lines on a legal pad. I remember him turning the page, then saying - ``and, what did you say?'' said Jim Hurst, who produced the play then and is producing it again.

It's Hurst's 20th Smithfield Little Theatre production.

It will be presented tonight through Saturday, May 8-11 and May 15-17.

Bill Gardella is directing the current version of the Agatha Christie play, his first time in the director's chair.

He played music in ``Jesus Christ, Superstar,'' and ``Nunsense,'' and did the musical arrangements for ``Pump Boys and Dinettes'' and ``Gold Dust.''

Gardella is not the only refugee from ``Gold Dust,'' the theater's February-March production.

Eight people from ``Gold Dust'' are in the ``Witness'' cast of 13, making switching from an upbeat musical to a serious drama.

One performer in the play who was not previously associated with the Smithfield Little Theatre is Melody Baker.

In an unusual piece of casting, the 15-year-old Smithfield High School freshman is portraying a solicitor.

``I came out, read, got the part,'' said Melody, whose prior acting experience has been in school. ``I want to hit Broadway. I want to do musicals.''

No singin' or dancin' this go 'round. ``Witness For the Prosecution'' is a courtroom suspense about a London murder trial.

It has been successful on stages around the world, and was twice made into a movie, each critically acclaimed. The 1958 version, starring Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich, was nominated for six Oscars.

Agatha Christie, like Neil Simon, is always a safe commodity for theater groups - tried, true, reliable - names that audiences know and trust.

The Smithfield Little Theatre courtroom sports the Union Jack and the Flag of England.

``They accidentally sent us the Scottish flag at first,'' said Hurst.

No one has to sell Hurst on theater, no one has to coax him to tell Smithfield Little Theatre stories.

Hurst's favorite show, of those with which he was directly connected, was ``Pump Boys And Dinettes,'' presented two years ago.

``Good script, good music, best talent I could ever get,'' he said. ``The music worked - everything jelled.''

No music, but ``jelling'' seems to be the order of the day with the current production which tells the story of a young man in post war England, accused of a horrible crime.

His German-born wife holds the key to his exoneration. She offers his only alibi, but is not allowed to testify in his behalf. Some things never change.

``Witness For the Prosecution,'' is a classy courtroom drama, with a surprise ending. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS

Jim Hurst is producing ``Witness For the Prosecution,'' his 20th

play for Smithfield Little Theatre.

Graphics

ABOUT THE PLAY

WHAT: The Smithfield Little Theatre presents, ``Witness For the

Prosecution.''

WHEN: 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday, May 8-11, May 15-17 and

2:30 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Cotton Gin Theatre, Commerce Street.

COST: Reserved seat tickets are $8.

FOR INFORMATION: Call 357-2501.