***Warning: this article contains spoilers***
On Oct. 3, 2024, Parkland Theatre held the opening night of its first show of the season, “12 Angry Jurors.” The production, a straight play explores the huge responsibility faced by 12 people as they consider the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder.
The play consists of 12 jurors as the actors, with no showing of the person on trial or the judge. The jurors bring their own histories, prejudices and biases to the jury room as they work through this decision. Their differing motivations and biases bring tension and conflict, playing crucial roles in driving the narratives of justice and prejudice.
The setting of the play, which is very bleak and intense, remains unchanged throughout, allowing the audience’s attention to be solely on the characters and their actions. The majority of the light shines right above the wooden table and the jurors, contrasting the rest of the otherwise dark room. The bleak setting does an adequate job of reflecting the gravity of the situation and the emotional strain on the jurors. The long wooden table, window and door realistically mimic a jury deliberation room, only adding to the convincingness presented by the actors. The props in the play are essential to making it feel captivating and powerful, they pass through the door to represent evidence, one of which is a knife, which is crucial to the case at hand.
One standout in this production was the ensemble’s ability to keep the audience engaged and entertained throughout the play. Each actor brought something unique to their role, making the individuality of each actor shine through. James Castree, who plays Juror Eight, is the lone dissenter who tries to challenge everyone to reconsider their initial decision. He is the only juror to initially vote not guilty, and he delivers a compelling performance as he tries to bring his point across to the other jurors.
Tony Curtis, who plays Juror Seven, is one of the antagonists of the group. One of his first lines is him voicing how he hopes that the decisions can be made quickly so that he can attend a baseball game. The importance of every juror’s voice is emphasized which creates an immersive experience.
In addition to the individuality of each character, the ensemble as a whole keeps the audience engaged with their portrayal of the tension and conflict in the story. The intense emotion and high stakes of the jury deliberation often lead to heated arguments and raised voices.
One of the most aggressive and vocal jurors is Juror Three, played by Jamie McDaniels. He is very quick to get angry and voice his opinions throughout the story. At the beginning of the play, he assertively states, “This isn’t a game; this is a man’s life.” The differing personalities, morals, and temperaments of each juror, played a major role, in accurately depicting a diverse set of people.
Another factor that makes the show an immersive experience is the size of the theater it is performed in. The show is being performed in the Parkland Second Stage Theater, which is smaller than the Harold and Jean Miner Theater. The audience is physically closer to the performers, allowing them to feel like they are a part of the story.
Parkland Theatre will hold three more shows of “12 Angry Jurors” on Oct. 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct 13 at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online here at Parkland College | Ticketing – 12 Angry Jurors (universitytickets.com) or at the door right before the performances.
