by Amanda McSwine with Cindi Boiter
Village Square Theatre’s current production of 12 Angry Jurors has a storied past. Originally written by Reginald Rose as a teleplay titled Twelve Angry Men that premiered on CBS in 1954, the now well-known tale of the power and contagion of reasonable doubt was adapted as a stage play, a film, and a different stage play written by a different writer during the first decade of its life. While many viewers think of Twelve Angry Men as the 1957 film directed by Sidney Lumet featuring an ensemble cast that included Henry Fonda and Jack Warden, the loose premise of the play has inspired everything from parodies likeTwelve Angry Elvises to TV shows like Sesame Street, Murder She Wrote, and Happy Days (“12 Angry Fonzies”) that used the practice of entertaining reasonable doubt as the loose structure for a weekly episode. A 2015 star-studded, sketch parody written by Amy Schumer for her series, Inside Amy Schumer, garnered rave reviews as it debated the question of whether Schumer was “hot enough” to have her own show. Village Square Theatre’s straight production of 12 Angry Jurors is a thoughtful and inclusive update to the original that better resonates with a contemporary audience.
The show opens in the jury room of a seemingly clear-cut murder case—so clear-cut, in fact, that before we even meet the jury, the bailiff tells the audience that the defendant “doesn’t stand a chance.” As our jurors enter, we see the intentionality of director Glenn Farr in his selection of a diverse cast. Almost any member of the audience may see themselves represented.
As the jurors begin to deliberate, we witness a clash of perspectives and an unveiling of biases. We see how the jurors negotiate with each other—and themselves-–as their worldviews are put to the test. In this age of echo chambers and curated algorithms, 12 Angry Jurors invites us to sit with the discomfort of differing opinions.
Katie Mixon’s compelling performance as Juror #3 (played in the original film by Lee J. Cobb) captures the defensiveness, anger, and desperation that surfaces when deeply held beliefs are challenged. Charles Zuber’s heated monologue as Juror #10 (played in the film by Ed Begley, Sr.), exposes the danger of how using rhetoric that includes terms like “those people” can turn bias into blind prejudice and discrimination.
The VST ensemble included LaQuana Aldridge, Tristan Brown, Beth DeHart, Will Frierson, Pat Gagliano, Kathleen Godwin, Rae Kostal, Kyle Mason, Jeff Sigley, and Brian Teusink. And, while all of the performers give their characters life with feeling and depth, as well as diversity, there were some production elements that were lacking. While many of the costume choices supported the director’s intention to set the piece “outside the normal timestream,” a handful of accessories distracted from this illusion due to their distinct association with a specific time period.
I appreciated the minimalist set which kept the focus on the exchanges between the jurors and the system in which they existed. But pacing was awkward at times. I would have liked for the cast to have found a smoother rhythm in order to better build tension during heated exchanges.
Overall, Village Square Theatre’s production of 12 Angry Jurors is a timely examination of the strength it takes to stand alone in the face of overwhelming odds, and the courage it takes to put aside one's pride and change one’s mind.
12 Angry Jurors runs through February 1. An additional show has been added on Thursday, Jan. 29 to accommodate the cancellation last week due to weather. For tickets call 803-359-1436 or visit the theatre’s website online.