PORT LUDLOW — Members of the audience can become the jurors in a murder trial — or just listen in — as the Ludlow Village Players bring Ayn Rand’s “Night of January 16th” to the Bay Club for four performances beginning today.
The courtroom drama, Rand’s first play, will unfold at 7 p.m. today through Saturday. The final show will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bay Club.
Tickets are $15 at the venue, 120 Spinnaker Place, and at www.brownpapertickets.com.
“Night of January 16th” is the story of Karen Andre, personal secretary and mistress of Swedish business magnate Bjorn Faulkner. She’s played by Janet Christiansen, and she is on trial for his murder.
There are two endings to the play: one for a guilty verdict and another for not guilty.
With the script written as it is, either one is possible, depending on the jury.
Old TV dramas
“This play reminds me of old TV dramas such as ‘Playhouse 90’ or ‘The 11th Hour,’” Port Ludlow director Val Durling said.
“Is it ever funny? I would say yes. It is high drama, but some of the cast portrayals show a very real, natural and humorous side.”
As the jury will be selected from the audience, those who want to serve should arrive at the Bay Club a half-hour before show time.
Names will be drawn 15 minutes before curtain, and the jurors will be seated in the front row.
“Night of January 16th” was first produced in 1934 in Los Angeles under the title “Woman on Trial” and got good reviews and decent ticket sales.
It went on to Broadway with the new title in 1935 and, thanks in part to its audience-as-jury method, turned into a hit.
In Port Ludlow, “the cast and the director are knocking themselves out,” said crew member Mary Ronen.
She noted that alongside Christiansen as the defendant, the performers are Becky Eastgard, Diane Strader, Don Clark, Doug Hubbard, Gary Settle, Gerry Thom, Gil Skinner, Ginny Ford, Jeffrey Groves, Jim Gormly, Lucinda Thompson, Lynne Pihl, Mike Derrenberger, Nicole Frenzl, Shirley Davies-Owens and Steve Frenzl.
For more about “Night of January 16th,” see www.ludlowvillageplayers.org.
________
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
