BWW Reviews: City Theatre's 12 ANGRY MEN is Bristling with Intensity

In complete darkness, the Godlike voice of a judge echoes. To the unseen jury, the voice states, "Premeditated murder is the most serious charge tried in our criminal courts...One man is dead. Another man's life is at stake...In the event that you find the accused 'Guilty,' the bench will not entertain a recommendation for mercy. The death sentence is mandatory in this case. You're faced with a grave responsibility." Moments later, twelve men file into the jury room. As they immediately discuss everything from the weather to an upcoming ball game to their desire to "get it over with," it becomes clear that all of them failed to grasp the importance of the judge's stern and eloquent instructions. All, that is, except for the solitary juror who detaches from the group and stares pensively out the window. So begins 12 Angry Men, Reginald Rose's gritty and brutally honest examination of our judicial system, now playing in a stark and powerful new production at Austin's City Theatre.

While Rose's dialogue and characters are extremely well written, the plot is remarkably simple. Within minutes, the jury has a nearly unanimous guilty verdict, with Juror Eight (the aforementioned window gazer) as the only hold out. Instead of caving, Juror Eight tries to convince the other eleven men that there is a reasonable doubt to the case. Over the course of two hours, the jurors deliberate, and in the process they reveal their personal prejudices and feelings on class and societal issues of 1957 America.

With its attention to detail and authenticity, Rose's script sets the entire play within the jury room and the adjoining restroom with the vast majority of the show taking place around a table. The simple setting, lack of movement, and occasionally repetitive dialogue (certain facts of the case like the testimony of a neighbor and the type of wounds found on the body are discussed ad nauseam),make Rose's play a problematic and challenging one to direct. Despite the brilliant commentary on our judicial system and society, on paper this is a modest, actionless drama featuring twelve men sitting around the table talking about a violent action that we never actually see.

Thankfully Karen Sneed is more than up to the task of creating an exciting and gripping drama out of the challenging material. The pacing is fast and the characters are all unique and nuanced. Sneed smartly turns the title of the play into a misnomer. She and her cast highlight the differences among these men, a brilliant choice considering that we never learn the names of any of the characters. Juror Two (Brian Miller) is mousey and non-confrontational. Juror Four (Jeff Patterson) is analytical and slightly pretentious. Juror Seven (Andy Brown) is indifferent and more interested in sports than he is in the case. The elderly Juror Nine (John Meadows) is wise and dignified. Juror Twelve (Johnny Stewart) is a likeable wisecracker, and the immigrant-turned-citizen Juror Eleven (Kirk Miller) seems to have the most respect for the judicial system. The jury foreman (Rick Smith), former ruffian Juror Five (Rob Mora), and blue collar Juror Six (Michael Rains) all seem to take the proceedings seriously, and though often quiet, they occasionally burst with anger and frustration when provoked.

As would be expected of any situation in which 12 men must come to an agreement, three of the jurors are more impassioned and try to manipulate the group. Freddy Carnes struggles a bit with his character of the ignorant Juror Ten. He stumbles on his lines more often than not, but his delivery of his bigoted, racist rant in the second act is absolutely thrilling, intense, and uncomfortable. Rick Felkins is outstanding as Juror Three, the angriest of the angry men. He's stubborn, furious, and astonishing to watch, particularly when he lets us glimpse the real reason behind his anger. And as the courageous Juror Eight, Jim Lindsay is remarkable. Lindsay is an everyman protagonist that we root for, and the moments in which we see that even he is unsure of the guilt or innocence of the accused make him all the more relatable and authentic. When all twelve men are put together in the small, claustrophobic jury room, sparks fly.

The success or failure of a drama hinges on thoughtfulness. The writing, direction, and acting must all be carefully crafted and calculated in order for a drama to have the intended effect on its audience. City Theatre's production of 12 Angry Men is a prime example of all of the elements coming together in a way that is engaging, thought provoking, and incredibly realistic. Though I may be a jury of one, my verdict is that 12 Angry Men is a must see.

Photo: Rick Felkins (L), Jim Lindsay (R) and the cast of 12 ANGRY MEN. Photo by Andy Berkovsky.

NOTE: Recommended for mature audiences.

Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes including one 15 minute intermission

12 ANGRY MEN plays The City Theatre at 3823 Airport Blvd, Austin 78722 now thru June 9th. Performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 5:30pm. Tickets range $15-$25. For tickets and information, please visit www.citytheatreaustin.org

To post a comment, you must register and login.