Theatre Review: 12 Angry Men

A classic story told through a passionate cast.

Summary

Rating: ★★★★★
Running Dates: Mon 20 Nov - Sat 25 Nov 2023
Where to see it: Theatre Royal Brighton
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval) 
Keywords: Brilliant, Riveting, Provoking

Review

A classic story told through a passionate cast.

As the curtain rose, we witnessed 12 men sat on a jury bench, ready to determine whether a young boy was guilt or not guilt. Only their silhuoets were visable, as the judge made them crucially aware that this crime was punishable by death, and that they must all be in agreement.

The story follows each of the men as they walk into their hot, stifling jury room to discuss a ‘done deal’ case. It is quickly apparent that the men are assured that the needn’t waste their time, so they take a vote to see if they can leave with their boiling room with a verdict.

As one man steps forward to explain that he would like to at least discuss the case for ‘an hour’, that the idea of sending a young man to his death so quickly seemed wrong to him, the men are in despair and shock that he can be so naive to believe the boy ‘from the slum’ is innocent.

The play then tells a tale of pre-determined prejudice within society. The men begin to question their own values and morals and explore the issues with the judicial system, as well as classism and individual arrogance.

Patrick Duffy (Dallas, Man From Atlantis) plays the questioning juror with heartfelt conviction and a warmth that relieves the tension from the stage. His calm presence allowed the story to unfold as we discovered the other juror’s preconceived opinions on the case, the accused, and the other men in the room.

Tristan Gemmill (Coronation Street, Casualty) played a passionate juror who was determined to convince his peers that the boy did not deserve an aquital of his crimes. His story-telling was so passionate and I particularly enjoyed his portrayal and devlopment of the character.

Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street, Peak Practice), Michael Greco (EastEnders), Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) and Gary Webster (Minder, Family Affairs) similarly supported the storyline beautifully and allowed the audience to immerse themselves into the jury room, and deliberate our own preconceptions and opinions on the case. I particularly enjoyed Michael Greco’s depiction of Juror 7, which offered some enjoyable comedic distractions from a tense story.

The set design simple and clever. There was one room filled with 12 chairs, 2 benches and a large wooden table where the deliberations took place. To the side of stage right, we got a glimpse into the bathroom, where private conversations could be had away from the ears and eye of other jurors. I particularly enjoyed the use of the table, which was cleverly utilised to depict time going by as the story unfolded.

Standout Moment: Juror 8 offering Juror 3 his coat.

See If: You are looking to watch a classic tale that is just as relevant in modern society.

Last Impression: To always maintain a stance that people are innocent until proven guilty.

Written by Georgia