Interview: Staging Trial and Error, the play by Emma Amber

Trial and Error, a new play written and directed by the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award nominee Emma Amber is premiering in Cape Town at the Baxter Masambe from September 4-14, 2024. The play is a courtroom drama set in Lawrenceville, Georgia in America but features a South African cast. This big production has six performers and involves the audience as jury.  Emma Amber provides insights:

TCR: Trial and Error was presented in July [2024] at the Redhill Festival in Johannesburg but for the season at the Baxter, the play has been developed and refined with full production values?

EA: Yes, that is correct. We were very fortunate to get into the Redhill Arts Festival as, from their large number of submissions, they only take about 30 shows, so we were very excited and grateful. We are a Cape Town-based production company, though, and the festival is held in Johannesburg, so in true festival form, you have to beg, borrow, and steal things like set pieces to make do. The production at the Masambe will feature the full envisioned set and design elements.

TCR: Why have you set Trial and Error in America? Is it because you wanted to use the device of the jury which we don’t have in South Africa?

Emma Amber: I chose the play to be set in America due to their justice system and the use of a jury. In South Africa, we obviously do not make use of that component and in order for the audience to be somewhat involved. I landed on a USA setting, specifically Lawrenceville, Georgia, I knew that I wanted it to be set in a small town in a Southern state. I did a lot of research, and statistics point to Georgia being rated as one of the most racist states. Because race is a theme in this play, we needed to have it set somewhere where the message would resonate. I believe that South Africans will definitely resonate with the themes in this production just the same.

TCR:  Why a courtroom drama as genre?

EA: I wanted to challenge myself as a writer and create a dramatic play that holds a mirror up to society, asking audience members to consider their own biases. All of my other projects have been comedic with a happy ending, so this was a refreshing challenge for me. It began with a monologue where a grieving son confronts his parents’ killer, and the play developed from there. There is often a fear around discussing these themes, but I felt that this story, in particular, needed to be told. I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of performers taking on the responsibility. I also had a brilliant assistant director, Tiffany Miller, leading up to the Redhill run who offered her perspective when I couldn’t see past the script. When you’ve written and are directing a project, it’s easy to get stuck seeing it performed the way you envisioned, but my cast and Tiffany have helped elevate the production.

TCR: Can you talk about the plot – obviously without giving it away?

EA: The plot is quite straightforward: a young girl is involved in a car accident that results in the deaths of the people in the other vehicle. She now stands trial for manslaughter and neglect. The negligence charges are what drive the trial forward because proving negligence in a manslaughter case can lead to much harsher penalties than just accidental manslaughter. Negligence could involve high blood alcohol levels, a positive drug test, or neglecting maintenance on the car. Not to mention the bias that comes with a jury of peers deciding your fate. Besides the trial, we have scenes that provide context for these characters. These scenes are among my favourites because they show how the accident forever changed the lives of those involved. For example, Simon, the only child of the accident’s victims, has consistently visited Amari, the person responsible, in prison, and he says he is “looking for something.” I won’t give away any more details, but these interactions add depth to the story.

TCR: And the title Trial and Error?

EA The title works on multiple levels obviously the word ‘Trial’ because it’s a courtroom drama. ‘Error’ referring to the accident. And then the expression ‘Trial and error’ hinting at the fact that yes each performance will give us a different jury and a different result. Something needs to go through a process of ‘Trial and Error’ before they get the result they are wanting.

TCR: Are all the characters American?

EA: All of the characters are American, but they are not all from Georgia. One is from California and another from Washington, so there is an array of American accents. Obviously, the themes are relevant in South Africa. We have our own issues surrounding racial bias and discrimination, but I chose to approach these themes from an external perspective – setting it in America- rather than commenting directly on our own racial issues. The play also addresses universal themes of loss, mental health, and the stigma surrounding it, often branding one as incapable or at fault. Additionally, it explores themes of acceptance in a society that judges based on sex, race, and sexual orientation.

TCR: How is the audience involved in the narrative?

EM: The audience is consistently addressed throughout the play as the jury. As a result, there is no traditional fourth wall. Instead, they are invited into the trial as part of the play. In the end, after they have received all of the facts from both the prosecution and defense, who have watched the trial play out, they will ‘vote’ and decide Amari’s fate. Therefore, depending on the audience, the outcome can be one of two options.

TCR: Insight into the design?

EM: The play is set in Georgia in 2023. I would describe the set as clinical and minimalistic, with certain suggestive elements. The use of symbolism is also evident in this production. For instance, we do not have an actor playing the judge on stage; instead, a voice from above the rafters addresses the jury and lawyers, suggesting a hint of divinity. Orange is a significant theme in Trial and Error, and each character has an orange element included in their costume. Why, you ask? Come and see the play to find out.

✳Featured image: Cassandra Mapanda as ‘Amari’ in Trial and Error which is premiering in Cape Town, at the Baxter September 4-14, 2024.