It's Unanimous, 12 Angry Men is a Hit

The verdict is in, Twelve Angry Men is a hit.  The Roundabout Theatre Company's touring production of the Reginald Rose courtroom drama is currently in session at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and is injecting newfound passion into this classic story.

Having undergone numerous transformations, including an extremely successful television to film adaptation in 1957 starring Henry Fonda, Twelve Angry Men epitomizes traditional drama, with a dozen men from all walks of life converging in a jury room to hash out the fate of another man's life. 

Director Scott Ellis has decided to stick closely to the original book, keeping the play set in 1954 New York, and though Rose's book has the potential to work well under the guise of a modern reworking, the current interpretation reminds what made the original production so gripping. 

Ellis has his twelve actors jump right into the mired argumentative situation while slowly buckling under the sweltering late-summer heat.  Within the nonstop 90 minutes of terse debate and intermittent racist banter, each of the unnamed jurors finds a way to support a sentiment that the American justice system is in tact. 

As manners and civility are checked at the deliberation room door, each of the jurors bring with them baggage and opinions that are eventually hashed out as the often excruciating path to a verdict in the murder case is taken.

What ensues during the often-heated debate is passionate fervor thanks to Richard Thomas' finely acted portrayal of Juror Eight, the only dissenter of an otherwise unanimous guilty verdict within moments of beginning deliberations.  Upon first stepping on the stage, Thomas peers out a blinded window, seemingly the only of his fellow jurors to seriously be weighing a possible death sentence and all such a punishment carries with it.

Thomas' boyish charm, forever immortalized during the 1970's "The Waltons," works to his benefit as the unassuming cog in the wheels of swift justice, finding a way to cleverly convince the other eleven men that serious considerations should be made before sending a man to meet his maker.

Along with George Wendt ("Cheers") as Juror One, the recognizable factor that often comes with casting well-known screen actors on stage is quickly dashed as Ellis finds a way to fade their faces into the dramatic background, still allowing them to shine in their theatrical roles.

As the eager to organize jury foreman, Wendt embodies the frustration of a jury pool, wanting to streamline an uncomfortable situation while ruffling as little feathers as possible along the way.

It is unanimous that all twelve actors here are perfectly cast, with a few notables sticking out more than others at different points throughout the production.  Alan Mandell is clearly a standout as the elderly Juror Nine, with waist-less pants and a number of plot turning insightful moments.  The remaining jurors include Todd Cerveris, Randle Mell, Jeffrey Hayenga, Jim Saltouros, Charles Borland, Mark Morettini, Julian Gamble, David Lively and T. Scott Cunningham.

Disregarding the theatrical rule of thumb in which an actor should never turn their back on an audience, Ellis has nearly half the cast turned around while seated at the conference table dead center on stage.  And in this instance, Ellis was correct in doing so, as so much characterization is developing amongst the leading men that too much face time would have distracted from the individual performances.

Working well in this regard is the picture perfect set design by Allen Moyer, who creates a vivid recreation of the brown and dreary backroom of a big city courthouse.  When a storm kicks in, created by the skilled lighting and sound from Paul Palazzo and Brian Ronan, the neon lights flicker on to reveal further disagreeable facets of the characters.  Michael Krass provides the suitable costume designs.

Twelve Angry Men performs at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in downtown Los Angeles through May 6. For tickets visit the Center Theatre Group box office, located at 135 N. Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, or by phone at 213-628-2772.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Photos by Joan Marcus.  (Top) Cast; (Bottom) Richard Thomas.
 

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