AMERICAN JUSTICE Arts Theatre

A volatile, illiterate 24-year-old (Ryan Cage) has murdered a young woman. Her father (Peter Tate), a Democrat Congressman, an opponent of the death penalty, appeals for clemency and offers to educate the young man and give him a chance to redeem himself. But what is his motive? Is the Congressman totally altruistic? Or has he ambitions for the highest office in the land and is he using the boy merely to further his career? What is his true agenda? Is he as liberal as the image he projects? Richard Vergette’s gripping 75-minute drama observes the progress of their relationship over an 8-year period, starting in 2008. In the final scene Vergette suddenly includes accusations and confessions from both men; but they do not ring true at this late stage. The revelations would have been much more likely and believable had they been introduced earlier and dealt with then. Tacked on at the end they seem totally out of character. Nevertheless, tautly directed by Lisa Forrell and convincingly acted, the play deserves to do well and should go on to prove highly popular with fringe theatres and with university dramatic societies worldwide.