Written by Reginald Rose
Directed by Jarrad West
Everyman Theatre
Queanbeyan
Bicentennial Hall to 24 November
Reviewed by Len Power
14 November 2018
Based on his personal experience as a juror in a manslaughter
trial, Reginald Rose wrote ’12 Angry Men’ for an anthology television series,
CBS Studio One, in the USA in 1954. A
famous movie version starring Henry Fonda was released in 1957. Rose later adapted the script as a play which
was staged in London in 1964. It made
its Broadway debut 50 years later in 2004.
Taking place entirely in a jury room, the play focusses on twelve
jurors who must decide whether a young man on trial is guilty of murder. A mandatory death sentence will be the
punishment. At the start of the play,
eleven jurors are convinced of the young man’s guilt but one jury member
disagrees.
Director, Jarrad West, has assembled a dream cast of local
actors to perform this intense, fascinating play. Played in the round on the auditorium floor
of Queanbeyan’s Bicentennial Hall, West keeps the play moving at a furious pace
without an interval, building the tension to a satisfying and breathless
climax.
Everyone in this ensemble cast has their moment to shine. The director has obtained fine, in depth
performances from each of them. While
some of the characters are more prominent in the play than others, the performance
of every member of the cast is believable at every moment of the play.
Martin Searles’ set design gave the show the right period atmosphere
in the playing space and Tim Hansen created a fine sound design that had the audience
wondering if a real thunderstorm was rolling in over Queanbeyan. Fiona Leach produced some fine period
costumes.
The use of the Bicentennial Hall was problematic with the
echo created by the high ceiling making it difficult to hear the dialogue clearly. This problem was made worse when actors seated
at the table for long periods with their backs to us were speaking. It was hard to hear what they saying for
about the first half hour from the fifth and back row in the audience. Sightlines to the performing area were also
difficult with audience members’ heads in the way as actors moved around the
set.
Nevertheless, this was another memorable Everyman production
with strong direction and fine acting.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.