Review: Twelve Angry Men (Touring)

Monday, 13th May 2024 at the Grand Opera House York.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jury duty is a fascinating business. Throw complete strangers in a room and ask them to roll the dice on the fate of another stranger sitting in a cell somewhere. No professional training, just critical thinking and debate. Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men taps into this fascination, offering up a study of human nature as twelve men weigh in on whether the death penalty should be issued to the young man on trial.

Focusing heavily on the fact that all the jurors are men, the story is propelled by testosterone-fuelled outbursts, but it also finds some interesting reflections on how working men from all walks of life interpret the facts in front of them. And it’s a great cast leading this ensemble piece, led powerfully by Tristan Gemmill who is a formidable force as the alpha Juror conjuring up tension like clockwork. This is a man who allows his own experiences to colour everything he says and does – and a man who is far too at home squaring up to anyone seen as a challenge.

But it’s Jason Merrells’ Juror 8 who starts the “trouble”, and Merrells presents the rational, compassionate thinker with quiet sensibility, developing a Poirot-esque knack for unpicking the details of the case. On the flip side to all the aggression, Michael Greco brings easy and welcome comic relief as the blue collar Everyman wanting to get it over with so he can get to the game – and Greco throws out some great one liners too.

Meanwhile, Mark Heenehan offers a phenomenal sense of authority and commands the space with a voice that could halt a stampede, while Kenneth Jay and Paul Beech offer reassuring voices of wisdom amidst the heated debates surrounding them. The rest of the cast includes Samarge Hamilton, Gray O’Brien, Ben Nealon, Gary Webster, Paul BeechJeffrey Harmer, Paul Lavers and Owen Oldroyd – all of whom contribute to the compelling sense of varied and sometimes problematic perspectives.

And Rose’s writing is very well crafted, gently plucking away at the edges of each argument and every so-called resolute opinion. As the men battle it out – some with reason; others with rage – many of their own characters are laid bare, warts and all, until we are left to judge these men on their inflated egos, slippery sense of duty and a heady mix of compassion and ignorance. Some of the developments feel predictable considering how carefully the ground is laid to begin with, but Rose does a brilliant job of keeping us on our toes as we track through the chaotic debates.

Crucially, Christopher Haydon’s direction keeps what could be a very dry few hours in the wrong hands ticking along with ebbs and flows which feel natural, striking a solid and careful balance between keeping pace and entertaining leisurely realism. Michael Pavelka’s designs are also spot on, from the costuming subtly reflecting all the walks of life in the room, to the pouring rain against the windows and the imperceptibly rotating boardroom table. Along with Chris Davey’s intense yet naturalistic lighting, this show offers a rare example of a tense drama confidently maintaining engagement without heading for the pitfall of brooding, soporific sets and lighting.

All in all, and having no prior knowledge of this famous piece, I’d say this a compelling drama and a powerful study of how we view and treat each other – especially when given positions of power, and most especially when others seek so forcefully to influence us. If you like your drama tense and driven by fierce and passionate characters, this one is for you!

Twelve Angry Men is at the Grand Opera House York until May 18th 2024 – more information and tickets can be found here.

Images: Jack Merriman