The drama 12 Angry Men is a staple on stage, and was a classic 1957 film. Known only by their numbers throughout most of the play, the dozen men tasked with determining the fate of a young man accused of murdering his abusive father reveal a great deal about themselves and the world they live in.
Set in the mid-1950s, 12 jurors debate the case of a young man who is accused of killing his father with a switchblade. Two “witnesses” say they saw or heard the crime, but both stories have holes in them. It is a capital case, meaning that there must be a unanimous vote, and that the defendant will be given the death penalty if found guilty. At first, 11 jurors vote “guilty,” and the one dissenter, Juror 8, proceeds to explain his doubts. Soon, other jurors begin to ask questions and think through the testimony, poking more holes in the story and creating more doubt. One by one, they reach a “not guilty” verdict, but not until prejudices are revealed, and souls searched. It is a reminder that judgments, borne of our own narrow experience of the world, need to be examined regularly for true justice to be served.
An able cast, comprised of several Chicago and New York stalwarts, plus veterans of the Indiana stage such as Adam Crowe, Charles Goad, Patrick Clear, Mark Goetzinger, and Scot Greenwell, is riveting. Each man plays off the other, confronting and understanding as needed as doors open to their psyches. A clever rotating jury table and simple set allows the actors to be seen and heard as it slowly turns. James Still, the director, concentrates on the process of the angry 12 coming to realize that there is a reasonable doubt, and that justice is hardly ever served to everyone’s satisfaction.
The first show of the 2019-20 season, 12 Angry Men is a great start. The production remains on the Mainstage until Sept. 29. Visit irtlive.com or call 317-635-5252 for ticket information.
