Theater review: Courtroom whodunit is suspenseful in Ayn Rand’s ‘Night of January 16th’ at Western Reserve Playhouse The courtroom whodunit Night of January 16th keeps the suspense high as several characters are introduced who had plenty of motive to kill despotic businessman Bjorn Faulkner. Director Brian Westerley works with a strong cast at Western Reserve Playhouse, led largely by a handful of award-winning local actors who have starred regularly on the Weathervane stage: Meg Hopp as tough district attorney Flint, Daniel Colaner as smooth-talking defense attorney Stevens, Tom Stephan and Scott Davis alternating as sardonic Judge Heath and Harriet DeVeto as the passionately angry servant Magda. Playwright Ayn Rand (1905-1982) creates several characters of both comical and questionable nature in this murder trial in which Faulkner’s longtime mistress Karen is on the hot seat. Actress Beth Gaiser does a good job portraying her as a woman who has plenty to hide but can’t contain several angry outbursts during the trial. Barry Wakser plays private investigator Van Fleet, who may just be an unreliable witness considering he spies on people from bars. And Patrick Wilson is goofy as inspector Sweeney, the first cop on the scene of the crime who seems a little too enamored of Faulkner and his mistress’s legendary high-class lifestyle. DeVeto is hilarious as housekeeper Magda, who gives what she perceives as disgusting details about Faulkner and Karen’s longtime affair. DeVeto is at her most fun when she gives “other woman” Karen the evil eye in court. The play, written by Russian-born American novelist, philosopher, playwright and screenwriter Rand, premiered in 1934 in Los Angeles, played on Broadway in 1935-1936 and was subsequently revived Off-Broadway in 1973 as Penthouse Legend. It was inspired by the real-life story of Swedish “Match King” Ivar Kreuger, who reportedly committed suicide in Paris in 1932. In Night of January 16th, Faulkner has fallen to his death from the penthouse of the building he owned. But was it murder or suicide?In a unique twist, nine members of the audience are picked each night to serve as jurors. They control the play’s ending by deciding whether Karen is guilty or not. This production is the last of Western Reserve Playhouse’s summer season, which takes place in a large barn in Bath. Sue Snyder, Jack Steele and Jim Gremba created the courtroom set, consisting of the judge’s bench with defense and prosecution tables on each side.We learn that this businessman was a ruthless swindler who enjoyed ruling over both the women and the business people in his life.One awkward moment occurs when Colaner’s Stevens interrupts the trial to read a note from a source unknown to the audience, asking Stevens to stall the proceedings until this person arrives. When Karen hears that, she’s in a big hurry to finish up her testimony and later we find out why. As in most good murder mysteries, there’s a love triangle and numerous people with conflicting interests from Faulkner’s life. Among them are Faulkner’s young American wife Nancy Lee (Elizabeth Allard), who has a superiority complex; and her rich daddy, Whitfield, played by David Hundertmark. And what’s a murder mystery without a mobster thrown in for good measure? That character, Regan, is played as a hothead by the talented Ron Young. It all makes for an entertaining night at the theater.Arts writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com