Twelve Angry Men
by Reginald Rose
The Palace Theatre, Southend on Sea
11th May to 16th May 2015
by Reginald Rose
The Palace Theatre, Southend on Sea
11th May to 16th May 2015
I always thought that I’d like to get picked to do Jury Service. It seemed like quite an exciting thing to do - a few weeks (possibly) off work and an interesting case would make a refreshing change to the daily hum drum of life; or so I imagined, however, after watching Twelve Angry Men I have to say that now I’m not so sure.
Playwright, Reginald Rose was a juror himself in the New York County Supreme Court in 1954. It was a life changing experience for him. He was on a jury for a manslaughter case and got into a terrific, furious, eight hour argument in the jury room. And it struck a chord. He then realised that he had the perfect setting; a single room, an emotive issue and a set of characters from a variety of backgrounds and many heightened passions.
Formidably staged; we are introduced to a vast room backed with three large windows behind which as a backdrop are seen New York skyscrapers, still in the process of being built, as this play is set in the 1950s. Flanked by a door that leads on one side to a bathroom area, with a fully working sink and on the other side the door to which the Jurors appear from the Court Room. A long wooden table gives us the central focus and subliminally turns full circle throughout each Act of the play, yet this is done which such subtlety that I had no concept of when it was actually turning, until at the end of the play when it had gone around again. Brilliant.
Obviously this is testament to the action of the play which constantly grips our attention. This is a very wordy play and I wouldn’t advise going to see it if you’re feeling a bit tired - you really need to keep up. Having said this, it is not a complicated storyline but you really don’t want to miss a word of it. What this play brings up are the issues of prejudices and attitudes that any one of us may unwittingly hold, after all we are all products of the way we have been brought up and educated.
After a 3 day trial, all 12 jurors are congregated in this room to decide the fate of a 16 year old delinquent who has been accused of stabbing his father in the chest and killing him. They take a vote to determine their decision and what would initially seem to be an open and shut case soon becomes a dilemma. All 12 have to be sure beyond reasonable doubt that this boy is guilty.
Only one Juror, Juror 8, played by Jason Merrells, believes that the accused is innocent and draws intelligent arguments in an effort to try and persuade each of the other members of the jury to change their opinion from the evidence provided by the Court and the boy’s inexperienced lawyer. Juror No 8 reminded me in some way of the Inspector in J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, much in the way that he becomes the voice of reason and forces the others to question their opinions and actions, albeit in a quietly smug yet convincing manner.
Jason Merells may be the top billed actor in this play and indeed he does an excellent job but for me the stand out performance goes to Andrew Lancel as Juror 3, the bigoted, bully who vociferously believes that everyone should share his opinion. His characterisation is a masterclass as he completely embodies his role in this production. His outburst at the end of the first Act is sensationally revealing and another layer of this character is shown again later, towards the end of the play, where his emotions get the better of him.
This is a cleverly directed piece of theatre with great staging and effects. It also has an impressive cast; most of whom we will have seen on our tv screens. In particular, Denis Lill who plays Juror 10, who played Rodney’s father in law in Only Fools and Horses and Dennis in Outside Edge. He gives a fabulous performance as the ignorant and stubborn juror with a constantly runny nose, who would rather be at home. Robert Duncan, Juror 4, we will know from Drop the Dead Donkey and also Gareth David-Lloyd, Juror 12, who is best known for his role as Ianto Jones in Torchwood. This is a great ensemble piece and it’s wonderful to watch all of twelve of these actors in action on The Palace Theatre stage.
This is a thought provoking play and although perhaps a little dated now, still has the power to make you realise the pressures the judicial system faces, especially as when this play is set, it is a matter of life or death. It has certainly made me think about whether I want to do jury service now!
I understand that this play has been used by business and law schools to aide students in demonstrating the art of persuasion. Well, I would certainly encourage you to see this fabulous piece of theatre and if I haven’t managed to persuade you to see this stellar production then indeed, find me guilty as charged!
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Playwright, Reginald Rose was a juror himself in the New York County Supreme Court in 1954. It was a life changing experience for him. He was on a jury for a manslaughter case and got into a terrific, furious, eight hour argument in the jury room. And it struck a chord. He then realised that he had the perfect setting; a single room, an emotive issue and a set of characters from a variety of backgrounds and many heightened passions.
Formidably staged; we are introduced to a vast room backed with three large windows behind which as a backdrop are seen New York skyscrapers, still in the process of being built, as this play is set in the 1950s. Flanked by a door that leads on one side to a bathroom area, with a fully working sink and on the other side the door to which the Jurors appear from the Court Room. A long wooden table gives us the central focus and subliminally turns full circle throughout each Act of the play, yet this is done which such subtlety that I had no concept of when it was actually turning, until at the end of the play when it had gone around again. Brilliant.
Obviously this is testament to the action of the play which constantly grips our attention. This is a very wordy play and I wouldn’t advise going to see it if you’re feeling a bit tired - you really need to keep up. Having said this, it is not a complicated storyline but you really don’t want to miss a word of it. What this play brings up are the issues of prejudices and attitudes that any one of us may unwittingly hold, after all we are all products of the way we have been brought up and educated.
After a 3 day trial, all 12 jurors are congregated in this room to decide the fate of a 16 year old delinquent who has been accused of stabbing his father in the chest and killing him. They take a vote to determine their decision and what would initially seem to be an open and shut case soon becomes a dilemma. All 12 have to be sure beyond reasonable doubt that this boy is guilty.
Only one Juror, Juror 8, played by Jason Merrells, believes that the accused is innocent and draws intelligent arguments in an effort to try and persuade each of the other members of the jury to change their opinion from the evidence provided by the Court and the boy’s inexperienced lawyer. Juror No 8 reminded me in some way of the Inspector in J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, much in the way that he becomes the voice of reason and forces the others to question their opinions and actions, albeit in a quietly smug yet convincing manner.
Jason Merells may be the top billed actor in this play and indeed he does an excellent job but for me the stand out performance goes to Andrew Lancel as Juror 3, the bigoted, bully who vociferously believes that everyone should share his opinion. His characterisation is a masterclass as he completely embodies his role in this production. His outburst at the end of the first Act is sensationally revealing and another layer of this character is shown again later, towards the end of the play, where his emotions get the better of him.
This is a cleverly directed piece of theatre with great staging and effects. It also has an impressive cast; most of whom we will have seen on our tv screens. In particular, Denis Lill who plays Juror 10, who played Rodney’s father in law in Only Fools and Horses and Dennis in Outside Edge. He gives a fabulous performance as the ignorant and stubborn juror with a constantly runny nose, who would rather be at home. Robert Duncan, Juror 4, we will know from Drop the Dead Donkey and also Gareth David-Lloyd, Juror 12, who is best known for his role as Ianto Jones in Torchwood. This is a great ensemble piece and it’s wonderful to watch all of twelve of these actors in action on The Palace Theatre stage.
This is a thought provoking play and although perhaps a little dated now, still has the power to make you realise the pressures the judicial system faces, especially as when this play is set, it is a matter of life or death. It has certainly made me think about whether I want to do jury service now!
I understand that this play has been used by business and law schools to aide students in demonstrating the art of persuasion. Well, I would certainly encourage you to see this fabulous piece of theatre and if I haven’t managed to persuade you to see this stellar production then indeed, find me guilty as charged!
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
What the audience thought