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The Power
of Persuasion
Twelve Angry Men
Grand Theatre,
Wolverhampton
*****
TO BE
fair, a jury is always a good premise for drama; 12 disparate
individuals all thrown together in one room - perfect template for some
verbal crossfire and simmering tensions.
Reginald
Rose's story of an all-male jury trying to reach a verdict, started life
as a 1954 television play (Rose based it on his own experience as a
juror on a manslaughter trial). When Henry Fonda and director Sidney
Lumet took an interest, the result was a
hugely successful movie that catapulted the story to a wider audience.
Stage
adaptations were inevitable and often equally powerful. One set, a large
table (of which, more later) and 12 characters drawn from different
sides of life. It could have been written for the stage.
This
version started life down the road at Birmingham Rep before going down a
storm in the West End. Jason Merrells takes over from Tom Conti -
certainly no like for like casting swap but an effective one
nonetheless.
Juror
No 8, played by Jason Merrells, the only juror not to rush to judgment
Merrells brings a studious, calm
quality to the independent thinker that is Juror 8. While others are
quick to judge, this juror pleads for less haste and more open minds as
the men struggle to reach a unanimous decision.
Andrew
Lancel excels as the deeply inflexible Juror 3. An instantly
recognisable and strongly drawn character - there is usually someone
like him in any group. Excitable, weak and insecure - Lancel nails him
perfectly.
Denis Lil
booms his way into proceedings as Juror 10. Rude, racist and spoiling
for a fight, there is little to like about the character. There is a lot
more to like about Lil's portrayal.
This is
very much an ensemble piece though. The writing gives everyone a chance
to shine and, bar none, they take the opportunity.
Michael
Pavelka's design is suitably stark whilst Mark Howett' s lighting
captures a stifling, clammy summer day to perfection.
This is a
gripping piece of drama, beautifully executed and powerfully told. It
demands your attention from the very start and never loses pace or
momentum. It is pure and engaging theatre that deserves to be seen.
One more
thing. The table. Keep an eye on it. Wooden acting at its finest.
Twelve
Angry Men, directed by Christopher Haydon, runs to Satuday, 23 before
continuing on tour.
Tom Roberts
18-05-15
To see where it all
started her is the original CBS Studio One episode from 1954 from The
Internet Archive
Second judgment
****
IT seems and open and
shut case when the jury in a murder trial return to their room to decide
the fate of a 16-year-old New York delinquent accused of murdering his
father.
Just a matter of raise your
hands for a guilty verdict and head for home or the nearest ball game,
but only eleven of the all-male jurors agree in Reginald Rose’s gripping
courtroom drama.
Juror No. 8 is unsure despite
what
 seems
damning evidence, and his stance causes some angry clashes while
revealing personality defects and blatant prejudices affecting some of
the men who at first appear quite prepared to send the teenager to the
electric chair.
Jason Merrells gives a fine
performance as the only juror who spots apparent flaws in the
prosecution evidence and stands his ground in the face of bullying,
disbelief and even a threat of violence as tempers become frayed.
Juror No 3, played by
Andrew Lancel,
perhaps the angriest of the 12
Gradually his calm approach
and reasoned argument begins to affect some of the other men, but he
finds an aggressive foe in Juror No. 3, superbly played by Andrew Lancel,
and it leads to an intriguing battle of wits and patience.
Television writer Reginald
Rose penned the play after serving on a jury in 1954, and his work
resulted in the 1957 film starring Henry Fonda.
It is now a very enjoyable
play, directed by Christopher Haydon, but you are left wondering how an
American defence lawyer could miss some of the pretty obvious flaws in
the prosecution evidence in the first place.
The set for the jury room is
excellent, the long jury table on a round section of the stage slowly
turns full circle…but can the audience spot the gradual movement? The
courtroom battle continues until 23.05.15
Paul Marston
18-05-15
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