This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 9, 2011 - The crime is heinous, and all evidence points to the accused. But the million-dollar question remains: innocent or guilty? That is the issue as the story of "Twelve Angry Jurors" unfolds. The production clearly shows the effort Rockwood Summit High School put into this dramatic play.
First aired in 1954, the teleplay "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose was adapted for the stage soon after; it made its Broadway debut 50 years later. "Twelve Angry Jurors" tells the story of a murder trial involving a 19-year-old boy charged with stabbing his father to death. At first, the case seems open-and-shut, but a single juror breaks the initial and nearly unanimous verdict. As the deliberation goes on, the number of people leaning towards the defendant's guilt rises and falls, spurred on by the rising and falling of the jurors' own emotions.
As the original dissenter, Juror 8 (Kyle Twomey) was the voice of reason throughout. Twomey never faltered in believing the defendant's innocence, and his cool demeanor toward the rest of the jury was spot-on. His emotions were clear through facial expression and general stage presence, maintaining the same level of energy the whole time.
The angry outbursts from Juror 3 (Spencer Blow) were convincing without being distracting. Blow portrayed the temperamental character accurately when he derisively cut down nearly every word out of Juror 8's mouth. On the flip side, he handled the emotional mention of his rebellious son without seeming awkward or disjointed, but rather easing into the softer side of his character for that brief moment.
Likewise, Juror 10 (Elyse Bertani) stayed true to her arrogant personality, even when she was not the focus of the scene. Bertani's use of the stage felt very natural and constant, and her speech revealing her bigot mentality was appropriately shocking. Though some actors were less than enthusiastic and slightly forgettable, the cast members powered through this and a few jumbled lines, remaining steady for the most part.
With only one set, it might seem that the play would feel stagnant, but the wooden matte on the floor and wall decorations fit for an office were beautifully done and remained in line with the 1950s time period. The stage crew paid attention to detail, even maintaining the clock at the correct time in between acts. There were perceivable pops and scratches with the sound system, but the sound crew fixed the problems quickly.
Distinctive characters and consistent acting kept this show going, with the simplistic yet appropriate set as the backdrop. Despite some stale deliveries and technological mishaps, Rockwood Summit's production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" tipped the judging scale in its favor, and the tension could be cut with a switch knife long after the curtains were closed.
Carolina deLegarreta is a student at Notre Dame High School.
About the Cappies
The Critics and Awards Program for high school theater -- known as Cappies -- was formed in the aftermath of the Columbine shooting to celebrate writing and performing arts at America's high schools. It operates chapters across the nation.
St. Louis' program was launched in 2002-03.
At the end of the year, the top performers, technicians and reviewers are honored during a Tony-style gala.
The Beacon is happy to help spread the word by printing some reviews.