A lot happens in John Grisham’s legal thriller “A Time to Kill,” in which small-town lawyer Jake Brigance takes on a seemingly doomed client. Jake overcomes one obstacle after another to boost his case, but the outcome still hinges on his delivering a brilliant closing statement.
It follows that a stage adaptation of the book would build up to that moment when Jake rouses the courtroom — and, of course, the audience.
But when that speech finally comes in Broadway’s “A Time to Kill,” it’s not the standout it needs to be. Sebastian Arcelus is a handsome actor and a seemingly perfectly nice guy — he did once star in Broadway’s “Elf” — but he lacks the charisma to slay that scene. (Compare and contrast with Matthew McConaughey in the 1996 movie. Better still, don’t.)
This is typical of the show, which is adequately done but bland. It’s meat-and-potatoes theater — or rather, meat-and-three, since the story, adapted by Rupert Holmes (“The Mystery of Edwin Drood”), takes place in the South.
Jake has his work cut out for him when he takes on Carl Lee Hailey (the imposing John Douglas Thompson) as a client.
There’s no denying that Carl Lee gunned down the two low-lifes who raped and nearly killed his 10-year-old daughter: He did it outside the courthouse and surrendered immediately afterward. Not only that, but he’d told Jake what he was planning to do. A black man killing two white dudes in cold blood in Mississippi? He’ll have a tough time wriggling out of it.
Especially since D.A. Rufus Buckley smells a case that could further his political ambitions. Strapped in a pinstriped suit, the terrific Patrick Page — the former Green Goblin in “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” — gives a highly satisfying performance, Southern accent oozing out of his mouth like Delta molasses.
As cartoonish a villain as Buckley is, he has a point: Carl Lee had very good reasons, but he also acted like a vigilante.
This doesn’t bother Jake and his Bad News Bears legal team — disbarred lawyer and town drunk Lucien Wilbanks (Tom Skerritt) and preppyish law student Ellen Roark (Ashley Williams). Brushing off intimidation attempts from the Ku Klux Klan, the trio sets out to help the accused and his wife (Tonya Pinkins, intense in an afterthought of a role).
Director Ethan McSweeny tries to suggest the pressure-cooker atmosphere with projections and a second-act shocker. But the production remains flat, lacking the minimum of suspense required for a white-knuckle thriller.
Enlivening the proceeds are some strong turns from the supporting cast, including former Republican US Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson as the formidable Judge Noose.
All told, this doesn’t bode well for a stage version of “Sycamore Row,” the new “Time to Kill” sequel. Then again, that could change if somebody could talk McConaughey into playing Jake Brigance on Broadway.