Second-Act Payoff in ‘Reasonable Doubt’

Jeffrey Archer’s courtroom drama “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” isn’t a great play, with its heavy-handed scripting and obvious motivations, but this production at the Long Beach Playhouse’s Studio Theatre sparkles so brightly in the second half, with the winning performances of Jack Messenger and Vickers Wilson, that you don’t really care.

Noted attorney Sir David Metcalfe (Messenger) has been accused of murdering his terminally ill wife (Wilson). He defends himself against his old nemesis, Anthony Blair-Booth (Reed Boyer) in Central Criminal Court, as the very nature of his relationship with his wife is questioned, most critically by his former servant (Marie Benoit).

Darlene Hunter-Chaffee falters in her direction of Act 1. Patrice M. Bonneyrat’s set design gives the proceedings a haphazard, shoddy feel. Yet Act 2 radically changes into a different production: Rand Hudson’s set design for the Metcalfes’ Wimbledon home suggests a cozy, comfortable life, and Hunter-Chaffee fully exploits the chemistry between her two leads.

Messenger makes his proud, arrogant David an attractive actor whose stage happens to be the English criminal courts. And his favorite audience? His wife. Wilson portrays a woman who has too long indulged her husband despite her pain.

To American audiences, phrases like “beyond a reasonable doubt” and “no man can be above the law” will be tiresomely familiar. If Archer has meant this as a morality tale, the lesson to be learned is: Be kind to your servants.

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* “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt,” Studio Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Feb. 21 and 28, 2 p.m. Ends March 6. $10-15. (562) 494-1616. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.