A Must-See Rendition of the Timeless ‘Twelve Angry Men’ at Palm Beach Dramaworks

 

 

This is one of the finest productions in Dramawork’s long history of excellent offerings.  Here is a true ensemble effort, a PBD reunion of a group of the finest male actors who have graced their stage over the years.  Maybe it’s the times, or the intensity of this play with it’s realistic, fast paced dialogue, or the size and brilliance of the cast playing off one another, or the inspired direction, but the gestalt is a passionate, stunning production, which would hold up to accolades on Broadway.  It is an emphatic statement that live theatre is back.

 

 Seen against our present time when democracy itself has been under siege, this production takes flight with new meaning and relevancy, perhaps even more relevant today than when it was written by Reginald Rose as a teleplay in 1954, then adapted for the stage, and ultimately becoming the well known 1957 film. 

 

As a courtroom drama 12 Angry Men is unique as it does not take place in the courtroom, it unfolds during the deliberations of the jury, the courtroom details becoming clearer to the audience through the eyes of the 12 men charged with the responsibility of possibly condemning a 16 year old boy to death for the accused killing of his father.  The lapidary character performances by this all star cast exposes the jurors’ personality traits and deep held prejudices in this gripping nearly two hour performance. 

 

A jury is supposed to be composed of one’s peers, but the all white, male jury of the play was Rose’s statement that the jury pools of NYC in the 1950’s were typically not gender or racially inclusive.  This production again raises the issue whether an accused today can receive a trial by an impartial jury of one’s peers.  Although today we have greater inclusiveness there is now heightened political divisiveness.

 

As the house lights go down we see the empty, neglected courtroom and then hear a steady one note drone musical tone and the off stage judge ominously charging the jury: “I urge you to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully. If there is a reasonable doubt—then you must bring me a verdict of not guilty. If, however, there is no reasonable doubt—then you must, in good conscience, find the accused guilty.”--Then as the door to the jury room is opened by the guard, played by Cliff Goulet, the jurors file in from the courtroom. 

 

At first, just informal chatter as they find seats, and then the first show of hands reflect an initial rush to judgement.  The jurors have other things to do and as the defendant is “one of those people,” he’s probably guilty.  But it takes just one stalwart level-headed juror, the play’s protagonist, #8, faultlessly played by Tom Wahl who stands alone not rushing to judgement, embracing his character’s profound responsibility, assimilating what the Judge dispassionately said offstage.

 

Tom Wahl (#8), William Hayes (#3) Photo by Tim Stepien

 

He is the fulcrum ultimately bringing all the other jurors into his orbit of questioning a guilty verdict with “reasonable doubt” hanging in the stale hot air of the jury room.  Wahl’s performance is driven by his character’s patience and sense of impartiality. 

 

The Foreman, Juror #1 played by Tim Altmeyer, struggles to keep peace in the jury room while trying to count and recount votes, finally angrily (everyone gets his turn  to turn to anger) throwing down the gauntlet challenging someone else to take his place as Foreman.

 

A formidable antagonist to #8 is Juror #10, portrayed by an explosive Rob Donohoe.  He delivers a powerhouse performance displaying his inbred racial prejudices with increasing ferocity throughout the play. At first he is just perplexed that Juror #8 is the only one voting not guilty in the initial round  exclaiming, “Boy oh boy! There’s always one!”  (The irony is not lost on the audience that it takes only one.)  Nonetheless his other antics bring needed humor into the jury room.

 

Rob Donohoe (#10),Tim Altmeyer (#1) Photo by Tim Stepien

Wahl (#8) has another implacable opponent, Juror #3 who has a sad back story of estrangement from his son.  This challenging part is played by the Producing Artistic Director of PBD, William Hayes, his first time on stage in almost 20 years.  What must that have been like returning to his roots as an actor?  Hayes demonstrates he still has the right stuff to perform the strong-willed, one track minded juror who again and again swears he can never be convinced of the defendant’s innocence.  He is a bully and his personal history drives his thinking.  Hayes seethes, consumed by his belief in the boy’s guilt, pitiable in his final capitulation.

 

John Leonard Thompson deftly plays the impatient, wise-cracking and opinionated Juror #7.  His attitude could be summed up ‘Guilty, I got a ball game to get to! The whole deal is a waste of time!’  This contrasts to the 11^th Juror, a European refuge played by David Kwiat with dignity.  It is #11 who later ironically (as an immigrant) reminds his fellow jurors of their sacred responsibility, derived from the Constitution.

 

David Kwiat (#11), Jim Ballard (#5), John Leonard Thompson (#7) Photo by Tim Stepien

 

Dennis Creaghan (# 9) does not say much at first, astutely playing the elder statesman, one who notices things and brings the wisdom of his years to the jury room.  Those observations are also a form of introspection as he heartrendingly comments on one of the elderly witnesses: “Nobody knows him, nobody quotes him, nobody seeks his advice after seventy-five years. That’s a very sad thing, to be nothing. A man like this needs to be recognized, to be listened to, to be quoted just once.”  His brand of wisdom comes in conflict with the robotic rationality of Juror #4, Gary Cadwallader who meticulously portrays a man of wealth, someone who thinks he sees things clearly.  His is yet another pivotal role played with great skill.

 

David Kwiat (#11), Rob Donohoe (#10), William Hayes (#3), Gary Cadwallader (#4), Jim Ballard (#5) Photo by Tim Stepien

 

Even the more minor parts have critical roles in the slow sway from guilty to not guilty.  Michael McKeever (#2) is a timid man whose opinion is easily impacted by the others, but is always adeptly in character as is Jim Ballard (#5) who hangs back for a while and finally comes forth with insight into the likely use of a switch blade knife, having come from the slums himself, which influences others in the group.  

 

Matthew W. Korinko (#6) carefully listens to his fellow jurors, but provides no particular insight, yet is among the first to change his vote and to defend other jurors who are verbally or even physically threatened.  Bruce Linser (#12) convincingly plays a supercilious advertising executive, imbued with his self importance but who will easily follow others’ lead.  Yet, it’s a key role as his vote waivers back and forth, almost a stand-in for the audience.  After all, as Juror #8 himself often infers, the conjectures being made are not necessarily “true” and it’s even possible they will be setting a murderer free, but the evidence doesn’t “seem” to rise beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

The fast paced action, highly influenced by the range of the characters’ personalities, exposes truths about them that quickly become more central than the details of the case itself.  Step by step they go from only one “not guilty” to the necessary unanimous not guilty as inbred prejudices, obduracy, and uncertainty yield to reason or merely exhaustion. 

 

J. Barry Lewis superbly directs this production and takes his queues for orchestrating the action from the text of the play, sometimes flowing onto sidebars between certain jurors while the others are not involved.  He finely tunes the performances so all the jurors stay in character – even when not speaking – body language and looks revealing inner personas, also capitalizing on what humor there is in the play for relief.  Mainly though, he draws the audience into this self contained bubble of a courtroom, on the hottest day in August, with the rising temperature and emotions visibly palpable. 

 

There are physical threats and confrontations which almost lead to violence as the play intensifies and Lewis, with the help of David A. Hyland, the Fight Choreographer, makes the most of impending physical confrontations and a few frightening moments in which a switch blade knife is ominously brandished.  All this takes place in real time, a working clock hanging on the wall, and although the jurors make reference to time, to the audience it flies by.

 

 

Scenic design is by Victor A. Becker who has created a metaphor for the justice system.  The courtroom is tired, one of the “12” overhead lights is out, the chairs don’t match, the floor is worn.  There are three large double hung windows outside of which one can see the Woolworth Building and other buildings of that time in seemingly 3 dimensional distant relief against an angry sky.  It is the ideal pressure cooker into which the jurors’ (and our focus) are locked.

 

Kirk Bookman’s lighting design has a realistic cutting edge lights on the Jurors, trapped in their deliberations while side lights and lightening beyond the windows illuminate the rain storm which falls during most of the 2^nd half of the play.

 

Costume design is by the always artistic and inventive Brian O’Keefe, and although there are no costume changes there are 12 distinctive attires, mostly suit jackets and ties being removed as the play unfolds and the heat continues to build, sleeves rolled up.  Little details, like who should wear wedding rings and hair styles were determined by each character.

 

Sound design is by Roger Arnold focused on hidden mikes for the actors who sometimes have their backs to the audience when occasionally sitting more formally around the table (although even then, Lewis has them sit at slight angles for audience viewing).  “Music” is a monolithic drone tone at the beginning which reprises slightly differently at the conclusion.  During the very few quiet moments in the jury room some NYC sounds can be heard as well as ominous thunder as the storm hits outside and windows are hastily closed.

 

Towards the plays denouement, we are reminded about how little things change.  Near exhaustion Rob Donohoe (#10) delivers what could pass as “today’s news” about “replacement theory,” saying ”Don’t look at me like that! There’s a danger. For God’s sake, we’re living in a dangerous time, and if we don’t watch it, if we don’t smack them down whenever we can, then they are gonna own us. They’re gonna breed us out of existence.”  Absolutely chilling lines delivered by Donohoe with fervor, after which he retires to a chair exhausted, a sweaty mess.  It takes Tom Wahl’s character (#8) to break the tension, compassionately saying “It’s very hard to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And no matter where you run into it, prejudice obscures the truth. “

 

How prescient this play was and still is, brilliant in its conception and presentation by one of the leading regional theatre companies in America.  It should not be missed.

Cast with Director and son of playwright (front center)