Wednesday, January 23, 2019
p5 Mary reflects at 99
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Reefton court battle PICTURE: John Bougen
‘Bailiff ’ Keith Tonkin, top left with ‘judge’ Alun Bollinger presides over snoozing juror Claire Ward, far left, baddie Brian Worthington, ‘constable’ Stu Grey, defender Cathy Douglas, and prosecutor Trevor Johns.
by Claire Ward
R
eeftonites will be summonsed soon to the town’s historic court house for a special sitting — when the Reefton Operatic and Repertory Society stages Court in the Act. About 30 summons will be handed out this Friday to unsuspecting Reefton miscreants who will have to worm their way
out of misdeeds as they appear at a mock sitting in front of presiding judge, ‘the right honourable’ Alun Bollinger on February 10. The special Reefton court sitting will be quirky. The judge is left handed and just does not understand why he cannot be called the left honourable. He also wants wigs brought back to court sittings so he can look more important — despite his wife telling him they always made him look silly.
The summoned riffraff will have the right to represent themselves, or appoint defence counsel, Cathy Douglas. The lady lawyer admits she is biased and open to bribe. Also, she is partial to her favourite tipple, a certain local gin. Formidable looking prosecutor, Trevor Johns, is Douglas’ sadversary and while Johns is not crooked he is a wee bit ruthless — especially when proceedings run late and he wants to get home to watch Shortland Street.
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Bailiff Keith Tonkin is somewhat discontent about working in a county court. He aspires to work in a high court so he can be called a sheriff, carry a six-shooter and affect a John Wayne drawl. Court reader Christine Archer can read well enough, but her pronunciation is odd, so bear with her. Policeman Stu Grey walks the thin blue line but wanders off it a lot, so visualise unpredictable. The jurors are an association and
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are therefore guilty of it. All of them tried to get out of jury duty, so they probably will not be paying any attention to the proceedings. Hecklers will be dispersed throughout the gallery. They will be admonished to watch their language and refrain from hurling rotten fruit and vegetables — being asked instead to hold them for the judge so he can feed his chooks. Entry to this whole sorry mess at 2pm on February 10 is a gold coin.
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