MsTrial
by Dep Kirkland
directed by Rick Andosca
presented by Maija Antilla
with Janie Brookshire, Bill Coyne, Christine Evangelista, Jeannine Kaspar, Dep Kirkland, Gerald McCullough, Gayle Samuels and Alan Trinca
at New World Stages, NYC
Kirkland’s play centers around the Internationally renowned, and hot-shot trial lawyer John Paris. His firm is prosecuting a case on behalf of the family of a young girl who was killed in a train crash. He has assembled a team consisting of his relatively inexperienced nephew Dan and an ambitious rising legal star, Karen. After winning the case, a celebration ensues and in the drunken morning hours, left alone, John and Karen’s flirtation crosses the line into something else. The second act opens with Karen accusing John of rape and raises the legal questions about desire, consent, winning, and losing.
First written in 2002, the play takes on much relevance in light of the events of 2019 and the #metoo movement. This is what prompted the producer, Maija Antilla to produce the show. The critics said:
"Law & Order meets John Grisham" New York Theatre Guide
"A topically pertinent new play." Theater Pizzazz
"Kirkland is paying unflinching attention to male behavior" NY Stage Review
"Kirkland fully unpacks his themes and leaves us with some disturbing questions." TheaterMania
“MsTRIAL raises some important questions." TalkinBroadway.