Retained for the Defence: A Farce in One Act

Retained for the Defence is a comedic one-act farce by John Oxenford centered around the misadventures of a legal case and the mix-ups that ensue in a courtroom setting. The plot revolves around the character of a lawyer who is hired to defend a client in a seemingly straightforward case. However through a series of misunderstandings mistaken identities and humorous situations the lawyer’s defense spirals into chaos leading to both comedic and absurd situations.Oxenford’s play is a satire of the legal system poking fun at the complexities and often farcical nature of courtroom proceedings. The humor is derived from the rapid exchanges of dialogue misunderstandings between characters and the comically exaggerated personalities involved in the trial. As is typical of farces the play relies on timing physical comedy and the unraveling of miscommunications making it an entertaining and lighthearted commentary on legal affairs and human folly.