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Twelve Angry Men
By Reginald Rose
Directed by Scott Ellis
Produced by Roundabout Theatre
Presented by Broadway in Chicago
At the LaSalle Bank Theatre
18 W. Monroe
Chicago, IL
Call 312-902-1400, tickets $18 - $65
Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 2 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2 & 7:30 pm
Special Wednesday matinee at 2 pm Feb 7
Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission
Through February 11, 2007
Absorbing court room drama a worthy affair
The non-for-profit New York theatre company, Roundabout Theatre, presents a national tour of the classic court room drama, Twelve Angry Men staring TV and film stars Richard Thomas and George Wendt. Director Scott Ellis has his veteran cast effectively build the dramatic tension to a fever pitch on Allen Moyer’s realistic drab 1950’s Manhattan jury deliberation room.
Even if you’ve seen the 1957 film staring Henry Fonda, this touring production is powerfully acted with its cast of solid actors including Chicago favorite David Lively. Richard Thomas (The Walton’s) and George Wendt (Cheers) were terrific. Wendt plays the jury foreman and Thomas is juror eight—the person whose analytical probing leads to a confrontational deliberation. Since the case at hand is a murder trial where the jury can only choose innocent or guilty and that verdict will either lead to acquittal or to the death penalty.
The case seems ‘open-and-shut’ as the 16 year old boy apparently stabbed his father to death after dad slapped the boy in a rage. Wendt, as the jury foreman, is determined to have order and a quick verdict. The initial vote is 11 for guilty and 1 for innocent (Richard Thomas’ juror eight). Slowly, Thomas asks questions that cast doubt as he argues the mere possibility that testimony from eye witnesses may be wrong, thus casting ‘a reasonable doubt’ as to guilt of the teen.
We see the frustration among most of the jurors as most minds are closed to any possibility of the teen being innocent. Led by Thomas’ juror eight, the heated debate ensues as hidden preconceptions and assumptions are questioned. Once each juror realizes that they could send a 16 year old to his death, they must face themselves and their conscience. The brilliant writing (many call Twelve Angry Men the greatest courtroom drama ever) by Reginald Rose cleverly weaves facts and testimony with keen observations from several open-minded jurors into a complex cobweb that will have you on the edge of your chair wondering what will happen next. The biases and prejudices of several narrow-minded jurors emerge and add to emotional depth to the factual arguments of the case. The terrific veteran cast delivers their characters deftly.
Twelve Angry Men is a timely, riveting drama that will get you thinking about your preconceptions and stereotypes. It is a reminder that we must question apparent facts before making tough decisions.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2007
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