Chris Clonts, Caroline Westheimer, Nancy Fleming, Marquel Skinner, Stephen Beal and Whitney Anderson in Surf City Theatre Company's production of Reginald Rose’s 12 Angry Jurors at Second Story Theater. (Photo courtesy of Surf City Theatre Co.)
Chris Clonts, Caroline Westheimer, Nancy Fleming, Marquel Skinner, Stephen Beal and Whitney Anderson in Surf City Theatre Company’s production of Reginald Rose’s 12 Angry Jurors at Second Story Theater. (Photo courtesy of Surf City Theatre Co.)

12 Angry Jurors 

Reviewed by Lara J. Altunian 
Surf City Theatre Company 
Through February 3 

RECOMMENDED 

“Facts may be colored by the personality of the people that present them.” 

Juror #11 hit the nail on the head in playwright Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men, first produced as a live television drama in 1954 before being adapted by Sidney Lumet into an Academy Award–nominated film in 1957. The outstanding writing and single-room setting make it an ideal candidate for a play — one that Surf City Theatre Company has effectively produced and brought to life thanks to a colorful cast and Richard Perloff’s skilled direction.

A sixteen-year-old boy is arrested for stabbing his father in the chest. The trial appears to be an open-and-shut case with two eye-witnesses, a flimsy alibi, an extensive criminal background and a strained family relationship, all of which begs the question: how could this boy not be guilty? However, Juror #8 (Drew Rogers) is not convinced. Feeling unsettled about a few details he claims don’t add up, #8 demands that the jury discuss the case more clearly, while the rest of the group grumbles about not being able to go home early as planned. However, they consent to stay. After all, a man’s life is at stake — if the accused is found unanimously guilty for murder in the first degree, he will be sent to the electric chair.

Tempers flare, perspectives change, and prejudices are revealed as the discussions become more intense and the twelve are forced to a take a more comprehensive look at themselves as they argue about facts and begin to realize how easily they could be distorted any which way.

For their version, Surf City has updated the timeline to sometime between 1963 and 1969, as indicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s portrait in the jury room, and switched out six of the men for women to create a well-rounded cast, hence the title change to “jurors”. The gender-swap not only provides a needed, modern touch to the story, but also adds to the message that anyone could have difficulty separating their personal feelings from a case.

Despite Rose’s decision not to give the characters names, their personalities are quite distinct. The jurors’ attitudes toward the audience are a clever way of mimicking their presumed judgment of the boy on trial. This concept is especially true with Caroline Westheimer, Daniel Gallai, and Cazimir Milostan’s hard-fast performances as Jurors #3, #7, and #10.

Perloff’s direction within the small space allows the actors to make themselves visible to every angle of the audience. Artistic director Lisa Leonard’s minimalistic props and set design, and Amy Cornwell’s simple period costumes, keep the attention on the dialogue while enhancing the action in each scene. Deeper debates about race, class, and privilege make the timeless topic relevant 65 years later, and the details with which every piece of evidence is tested and reviewed makes for a riveting drama.

For those who have seen Lumet’s version, this play is an excellent, well-performed live-theater adaptation of the same stellar story. For those who haven’t yet seen the black-and-white classic, you’re in for a good surprise.

 

Second Story Theater, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m.; through Feb. 3. (424) 241-8040 or https://www.surfcitytheatre.com/. Running time: one hour and 45 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.