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A review by saareman
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
5.0
A Devastating One-Woman Performance
Review of the Nick Hern Books (UK) paperback (January 2022) of the original Currency Press (Australia) paperback (2018).
This is perhaps a 4-star on paper, but after recently seeing Jodie Comer's performance as filmed and broadcast via National Theatre Live, I have no hesitation in rating it as a 5-star.
Defense barrister Tessa Ensler is at the top of her game and is a rising star at her chambers. The first half of the work shows her glorying in her success while looking back at her working class roots and at her early years in law school. Many of her cases deal with sexual assault, and there is a sense that defendants choose her for the added sympathy that a female defense lawyer might provide.
The second half takes a shocking turn when Ensler herself is assaulted by a co-worker and decides to press charges based on her faith in the justice system. That faith is soon to be broken.
Jodie Comer as Tessa Ensler in "Prima Facie."
Former lawyer Suzie Miller wrote Prima Facie in the early years of the #MeToo era and thought at first it would become outdated as real world events moved to correct things. Time has proved to her that it is as relevant as ever.
Sheridan Harbridge originated the role of Tessa Ensler at the Stables Theatre, Sydney, Australia in 2019. Image sourced from Currency Press.
Trivia and Links
You can see the trailer for the National Theatre Live broadcast of Prima Facie on YouTube here.
Playwright Suzie Miller introduces Prima Facie in an interview which you can watch on YouTube here.
Aside from the National Theatre Live production, since 2023 there is also a plan to expand and adapt Prima Facie as a feature length film. You can watch for updates on that at IMDb here.
Review of the Nick Hern Books (UK) paperback (January 2022) of the original Currency Press (Australia) paperback (2018).
'Because,
the truth is that
one in every three women are sexually assaulted.
And their voices need to be heard.
They need to be believed,
for justice to be done.'
I hear the judge now.
I have gone beyond what I am allowed to say.
well beyond.
One in three women.
Look to your left,
look to your right,
one of us...
This is perhaps a 4-star on paper, but after recently seeing Jodie Comer's performance as filmed and broadcast via National Theatre Live, I have no hesitation in rating it as a 5-star.
Defense barrister Tessa Ensler is at the top of her game and is a rising star at her chambers. The first half of the work shows her glorying in her success while looking back at her working class roots and at her early years in law school. Many of her cases deal with sexual assault, and there is a sense that defendants choose her for the added sympathy that a female defense lawyer might provide.
The second half takes a shocking turn when Ensler herself is assaulted by a co-worker and decides to press charges based on her faith in the justice system. That faith is soon to be broken.
Jodie Comer as Tessa Ensler in "Prima Facie."
Former lawyer Suzie Miller wrote Prima Facie in the early years of the #MeToo era and thought at first it would become outdated as real world events moved to correct things. Time has proved to her that it is as relevant as ever.
Sheridan Harbridge originated the role of Tessa Ensler at the Stables Theatre, Sydney, Australia in 2019. Image sourced from Currency Press.
Trivia and Links
You can see the trailer for the National Theatre Live broadcast of Prima Facie on YouTube here.
Playwright Suzie Miller introduces Prima Facie in an interview which you can watch on YouTube here.
Aside from the National Theatre Live production, since 2023 there is also a plan to expand and adapt Prima Facie as a feature length film. You can watch for updates on that at IMDb here.