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A CurtainUp London London Review
Twelve Angry Men


"Let me throw it out on the stoop and see if the cat licks it up." — Juror 12
Twelve Angry Men
The jury takes a vote (Photo: Robert Day)
Interesting is this play about the workings of a jury, which is derived in the main from a 1957 teleplay starring Henry Fonda. Twelve Angry Men is a remarkably good drama, well acted, although it may not be altogether realistic in the way in which individual jurors make the case for the defence.

Set in a claustrophobic city court room, Martin Shaw leads as Juror 8, who in the first poll is the only one to find the young boy from the ghetto accused of the murder of hid father, not guilty. His main protagonist is Juror 3 played by Jeff Fahey, an articulate man with a troubled past. The atmospheric set with its fly screens on the windows centres on a wooden table with a slow, almost imperceptible revolve. I was so gripped by the drama that I failed to notice the table moving and was left asking when did the table turn 180 degrees? The first debate about the individual knife is sealed when Juror 8 dramatically produces an identical knife.

Veteran actor Robert Vaughn, who will be 80 in a few days time. as Juror 9 is the next to be convinced of reasonable doubt as to the kid's innocence. I found the speeches of Martin Turner as Juror 11, a recent immigrant from Europe, especially moving as we share his perception of the American Dream. Miles Richardson in a tweed cap does little to conceal his prejudice towards the residents of the ghetto with racist remarks about "those people" although we are not completely sure whether he is referring to Hispanics or African Americans. It doesn't matter: his comments are about otherness, suspicion and fear of the unknown.

Juror 12 (Owen O'Neill)with his background in advertising, comes up with all manner of quaint expressions, showing the creative mind of a Madison Avenue jingle writer. Christopher Haydon's direction copes well with the problem of showing a cast seated at a table to all the audience, although there were moments when I couldn't see Juror 10 although I could hear him.

The scene where Juror 3 goes head to head with Juror 8 is most effective with some splendid acting between Jeff Fahey and Martin Shaw creating genuine dramatic tension. For a period piece, Twelve Angry Men delivers a classic drama full of impassioned debate.

For Elyse Sommer's review of the play in New York in 2004 go here.

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Twelve Angry Men
Written by Reginald Rose
Directed by Christopher Haydon

Starring: Michael Shaw, Jeff Fahey, Robert Vaughn, Nick Moran
With: Luke Shaw, David Calvitto, Paul Antony-Barber, Edward Franklin, Robert Blythe, Miles Richardson, Martin Turner, Owen O'Neill, Jason Riddington
Designed by Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mark Howland
Running time: Two hours 10 minutes with one interval
Box Office: 0844 482 9673
Booking to 1st March 2014
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 12th November 2013 performance at the Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, London, WC2H 0HH (Rail/Tube: Charing Cross)

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©Copyright 2013, Elyse Sommer.
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12 Angry Men
Twelve Angry Men -For a period piece, Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men delivers a classic drama full of impassioned debate. . . Read More