A discussion of how the American judicial system functions at the nuts-and-bolts level could be dry as reading a lawbook, but Williams humanizes it by creating two flesh-and-blood characters. They come from very different generations and life experiences, but they've both had some trial exposure, one as a juryman, the other as a defendant. By the end, they each reach a fuller appreciation of the nuances of the "system" and of each other. Both learn something, and so does the reader. Great work!

Sometimes a person's problems don't vanish when they are acquitted -- in fact, as this play demonstrates, it is often quite the opposite. "Reasonable Doubt" by Philip Middleton Williams examines our legal system and its impacts from the perspective of two jurors-to-be. Guilty or innocent, being brought to court or into police custody has a tendency to disenfranchise and isolate individuals, and this play breaks things down without being didactic. An eye-opening drama.

12.26.24 - Interesting food for thought. Philip Middleton Williams has given us a character discussion that poses more questions than it answers. Or at least, that it answers in a way that makes us feel the "system" works. I love the complexity of this piece, showing the flaws of our legal system even as the two men await their chance to put it into action. Chuck's convoluted, but ironic determination of his earlier fate provides quite a bit for both Barry, and the audience to ponder. Thumbs up.