FCT's latest production is worth the trip to the courthouse

prathbun@acnpapers.com

Frisco Community Theatre's production of “Twelve Angry Jurors” should inspire audience members to not be so quick to try to avoid jury duty the next time they receive a summons.

FCT performs Sherman Sergel's adaptation of Reginald Rose's play “Twelve Angry Men.” Many people are familiar with this play from the 1957 movie version starring Henry Fonda.

The play was originally written as a television play first broadcast in 1954. From there it was adapted as a stage play.

Most adaptations of this jury room drama, including the FCT production, cast a number of the jurors as women. I had never seen a coed production of this play and I didn't expect to like it. I thought making the jurors a group of men and women would change the dynamics of how the group members related to one another and would stray from the author's original intent.

Well how thinking firmly inside the jury box was I?

A jury of both men and women takes the play right out of the 1950s and plants it in the 21st century. This play is so well written and the FCT production is so well-performed that it becomes apparent that an irritating bigot is irritating no matter what the gender.

The play begins with the judge's voice giving instructions to the jury just before the group files into the jury room to begin deliberations. The trial they have just listened to was that of a 19-year-old male accused of murder. The defendant is an ethnic minority, though his specific race is never mentioned. It may tell you something about yourself that could be a little uncomfortable when you realize which minority you assumed the defendant to be.

The jury takes a quick preliminary vote and all but one vote guilty. The one dissenting vote is from Juror No. 8 played by Blake Owen. If you are ever accused of murder you want Juror No. 8 on your jury.

Owen's performance starts quietly and goes from strength to strength. At first he seems like the guy in the office who always pays just a little too much attention to detail. He keeps injecting a tiresome note of reasonable doubt.

Watch his expressions and body language. He is relentlessly on message. Just his demeanor makes it impossible for the other jurors to sway him no matter what histrionics they may resort to.

And there are plenty of histrionics. That's one of the things that makes this show so believable.

Alvin Hysong as Juror No. 3 gives an outstanding performance as a man used to displays of temper to get what he wants. He gives his character a touch of sadness as it is revealed he is estranged from his son. Hysong makes it clear that his character does not understand why he and his son don't get along and that colors his attitude toward the defendant.

Nancy Lamb, Juror No. 11, plays a naturalized citizen who takes serving on a jury as part of living in a democracy very seriously. She gives her character a ramrod spine that does not back down for anyone.

Paula Coco as Juror No. 10 accurately portrays the kind of bigotry prevalent in our culture. We all have a neighbor or co-worker like Juror No. 10 with her big hair and relaxed fit denim top.

All of the cast members make this a production well worth seeing. Chris Berthelot, Kathleen Cindulla, Stephanie George, Jay Hardy, Delores Hunter, Judith Johnson, Bruce Marchionda, Jen Rainey, Lydia Au and Charli Armstrong comprise the rest of the ensemble. Armstrong deserves kudos for taking on the role of Juror No. 12 three days before opening night when another cast member had to drop out. She played her part beautifully.

Sue Birch has directed this cast to bring out the nuances in all of the characters. Pay particular attention to everyone's expressions and movements. Birch's effort to get the details right has resulted in a standout show that brings out the major message of the play.

I've seen this show performed in Australia with an all-male cast doing American accents, nearly as painful as North Texans doing British accents. I saw this show at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas with Richard Thomas as Juror No. 8. George Wendt was also in that cast. That set was much more glorious than the FCT set. In that production the windows had to be closed to keep the water from blowing in from a sudden rainstorm.

The Frisco Community Theatre production surpasses those and proves that the most important thing you need to create a terrific piece of entertainment is talented crew and technical people and actors.

See this show. It runs through Sept. 9 at the Black Box Theatre in the Discovery Center. Call 972-370-2266 for ticket information.

Frisco Community Theatre's next show is “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” It opens November 2.

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