Plays
A Matter of Circumstance
(A full-length dramatic play in two acts.)
Max Barnes is on trial for the murder of his former wife, the murder of a deputy sheriff, and the assault and attempted murder of a second deputy sheriff.
The circumstantial evidence against Max is overwhelming!
Against all advice, he represents himself.
Is Max going to die because he can't prove his whereabouts for one and a half hours of his life?
The jury, made up of members of the audience, will decide!
Setting
Fictional Riverdale, Mississippi, near Jackson, in the main courtroom of the fictional Flint County Circuit Court.
Time
The present, four months after the murders.
Characters
BAILIFFUniformed officer of the court. (40s/50s)
DEPUTYUniformed deputy sheriff. (20s/40s)
COURT CLERKAn officer of the court. (30s/50s)
COURT RECORDER(30s/40s)
JURYTwelve members of the audience.
B.J. ROLLINSThe judge. (50s/60s)
MAX BARNESDefendant, high-school graduate plus trade school for construction. (30s)
BRADLY SCOTTProsecutor. (40s/50s)
Witnesses, in order of appearance
BETTY JEAN SIMMONSMary Lou Barnes older sister. (40s)
DR. NORTONMedical examiner. (50s/60s)
ELIZABETH JONESMary Lou Barnes' former neighbor. (60s/70s)
LUCIEN BERGERONFormer employer of the late Mary Lou Barnes. (50s)
MATT TAYLORDeputy sheriff. (30s)
ETHAN JOHNSONDetective with sheriff's department. (40s)
EUGENE WILSONEmployee of county waste authority. (20s)
SALLY HOLLANDLead crime scene investigator. (40s/50s)
JOSEPH BLAIRFormer employee of defendant. (early 20s)
MATEO CHUAFormer employee of defendant. (mid 20s)
PAUL FONTENOTA heavy-set, tough looking guy. (40s)
MONA WIGGINSThe late Deputy Wiggins' widow. (30s)