Full Circle Theatre Company and Director Mike Auer are staging a magnificent production of this timely piece as adapted by Stephen Berkoff and with a cast that excels both dramatically and comically. San Diego favorite Priscilla Allen headlines the cast in her first return to the stage at La Jolla High School since she was a student there. Here she plays Dr. Huld, the attorney for the defense who embraces the corrupt system because she knows how to manipulate it so very well. She sees the justice system as a game, and enjoys the wealth and the legions of dependents it has given her – an enjoyment that Priscilla portrays with perfect arrogance and gluttony, making the innocent and bewildered Joseph (Matt Harrington) feel more intimidated rather than more relieved.

Joseph is the central character of the tale, an ordinary man just going about his business until he is handed his vague indictment. That leads him on a quest to first understand and then to escape from the mighty government bureaucracy threatening to end his freedom for unspecified reasons – a quest that produces encounters with a chorus of nosy neighbors and co-workers, the attention of beautiful women, meetings with preposterous lawyers, and dangerous representatives of the government who take great pleasure in the power their careers provide them. Matt Harrington offers an excellent performance throughout the ordeal as his journey takes him through the emotions of confusion, outrage, despair and submission to a totalitarian government that is determined to never let him be free.

The outstanding ensemble features many terrific performances led by a hilarious cameo by Todd Peters as Titorelli, the flamboyant court painter who creates the most lifelike portraits and who has some disconcerting legal advice to dispense. Todd also joins Vincent Baca as the two amusing agents who clearly delight in their jobs as they serve Joseph with notice of his unspecified charges. Norman McKinnon is diverting as both a crazy bailiff and as a veteran customer of Dr. Huld who knows exactly how to kowtow and humiliate himself to maintain his position as an upstanding citizen. Nelly Bablumian is the sympathetic Laundress/Bailiff’s wife who sleeps with everyone in a vague attempt to improve her life, Tina Emami is the sensuous Miss Burstner who is drawn to Joseph’s plight, and Reem Mahmood is Dr. Huld’s pet mistress Leni who loves to seduce the attorney’s clients.

Joseph K.: