12 Angry Men

A riveting portrayal of reasonable doubt

(Theater Reviewer:  Linda Marley Smith)

March 9, 2010

Little Theatre of Norfolk has gifted Hampton Roads with an outstanding production of 12 Angry Men.  This exquisitely crafted classic was originally written by Reginald Rose in 1954 as a teleplay for CBS Studio One and eventually made its Broadway debut in 2004.  The drama depicts a jury forced to reconsider its nearly unanimous decision by the single dissenter who sows a seed of reasonable doubt.  It is compelling, must-see theatre that is not often produced, so get off the sofa and get a ticket while you can!

Director Scott Rollins has pulled together some of the best and brightest male talent in Hampton Roads to present us with a tightly woven interplay of emotions and intellect.  Well regarded for his energetic, incisive work with comedy, Rollins has wisely taken a more measured, deliberate approach to this material, allowing the process to develop in “real” time, while gradually building arguments and conflict to eventual resolution.  Given the set constraints, Rollins’ biggest challenge is to block the characters while enhancing the movement of the script within an extremely small space.  This he achieves brilliantly.  The result is riveting.

All the technical elements are done to perfection, including a plain, somewhat tatty jury room furnished only with a long table, chairs, radiator, water cooler and benches.  LTN has a very generous, deep stage area, but Set Designer (and Juror 6) Dave Hobbs has cleverly pulled the back wall as close as possible to the stage apron to enhance the juror’s claustrophobic experience.  A rain storm that occurs late in the action is fascinatingly produced.  The costumes by Lynn Rollins and Leslie Draper are so well done that one isn’t even aware that actors are “costumed.”  Ken Walker’s lighting was perfect as well.

Upon this beautifully staged platform, 12 actors each offer a well-developed, unique character that thoroughly and authentically engages the audience.  Space does not permit this reviewer to adequately compliment everyone, but anchoring the cast is veteran actor Cliff Hoffman as Juror 8, the one who initially challenges a seemingly foregone guilty verdict.  Mr. Hoffman’s successfully laconic questioning amid his fellows who demonstrate varying degrees of xenophobia, racism, mental laziness and other forms of prejudice is the center around which the script revolves.  Mark Haynie portrays a bombastic and flawed man who stubbornly resists conversion.  Miguel Girona, Michael Joyner, Christopher Kypros and Matt Gilbert all offer completely believable characters that spar with each other throughout.  Foreman Wade Brinkley is perfect.  Christopher Bernhardt as Juror 2 is a milque-toast character, while Juror 5, Mike Hoover, is coldly factual – an example of many competing contrasts.  We can’t forget Jim Mitchell and Robin Chapman, who were seated with their backs to the audience for much of the play, yet offered up their arguments and reasoning as clearly as anyone.  It was also wonderful to hear Rodney Suiter’s voice as the judge, and Guard Paul Fotheringham’s portrayal was right on.

Kudos to LTN for a job well-done!  The play runs for 90 minutes without intermission and will continue through March 21 – don’t miss it!  For ticket information and pricing visit:  www.ltnonline.org