Heated discussions rule the day in Parkland Theatre's produciton of '12 Angry Jurors.'
Remember "truthiness"?
You may be forgiven if you do not. It has been nearly two decades since satirist Stephen Colbert popularized the term to describe assertions underpinned by something resembling "gut feeling" without regard for evidence or facts.
The cutting humor of the word seems almost quaint these days. Think of the rise in recent years of "fake news" and "alternative facts."
These thoughts came to mind when The News-Gazette attended the final dress rehearsal of "12 Angry Jurors" at Parkland College's Second Stage Theatre. Based on Reginald Rose's classic award-winning play, "12 Angry Men," the current version is an often-used adaptation that allows community and college theaters to cast roles from their available acting pool.
Since Rose's play was first broadcast live on CBS in 1954 -- that production won three Emmy Awards -- there have been too many adaptations to count. Best known is likely the 1957 film version starring Henry Fonda (with a slew of other worthy actors), directed by Sidney Lumet. There have been versions set in Russia, Lebanon, India, Spain, Germany and China. It has also been adapted as "12 Angry Men and Women" and "12 Angry Women."
In director B.J. Gailey's production at Parkland, "12 Angry Jurors" is a thoughtful civics lesson come to life. An unseen judge intones rules of procedure and details the charge to the jury just before the actors file into Kristin Kelleher's aptly designed room where deliberations will unfold.
Sheri Doyle's costume designs remind us of the (roughly) mid-1950s time period in which the story is set. Max Prevatt's warm wash of lighting helps create the sense of a hot summer day, which creates a climate for dramatic sparks to burst from the characters' conflicts over facts, evidence and the personal prejudices of everyone in the room. There are occasional bits of dialogue lost beneath the atmospheric rumble of Drew Bagby's otherwise effective sound design, but this will be corrected when an audience is present.
As the jurors get settled, we begin to get a sense of their individual personalities and quirks. But it is only when the voting begins that we more fully learn the varying perspectives of the characters. Although Juror 8 (James Castree) gets the action rolling when he is the lone holdout in the first vote, Rose's play is an ensemble piece that relies on active listening by the actors while others speak. In this regard, Gailey has woven a coherent group that consistently drives the action forward.
Juror 8 wants to probe more than the presented "facts" of the case, which is generally a questionable tactic in a jury room. But his concern that an immediate verdict of guilty will condemn a teenager to death makes others in the room willing to examine the facts more closely.
Over the course of 90 minutes, each of the characters comes into sharper focus, whether it is the embittered mother who is estranged from her son (Jamie McDaniels), an older man who finds his influence fading (David Heckman), a virulent racist who is ostracized by the group (John Howard), or an immigrant woman who understands American values all too well (Mary Rose Cottingham).
In their work with this ensemble, Li Reichlin, Erin Kaufman, Karen Hughes, Ciara Kenny, Yeshua Harris, Tony Curtis and Monty Joyce each contribute significant moments to a debate on American values related to truth and fairness.
In recent and upcoming offerings by our local theaters, we are being asked to consider which "civic values" we retain today -- and which ones we are willing to let go.
We answer those questions through our actions.
If you go
What:Parkland Theatre presents '12 Angry Jurors,' by Sherman L. Sergel, based on '12 Angry Men' by Reginald Rose; directed by B.J. Gailey.When:7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Oct. 12; 3 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 13.Tickets:$20; students/youths/seniors/veterans, $15.Where:Parkland's Second Stage Theatre, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign.Box office: parkland.university tickets.com.