Are you ever a 100% sure of anything? We almost never are, but for eleven of twelve jurors, it was easy to be sure that a boy murdered his mother. One woman, played by Katie Van Wyhe, stood alone against the overbearing group. Through emotional characters and convincing acting, the play, The Twelve Angry Jurors, brought to light how prejudice clouds our judgment and how a single person can change our perceptions.
The Twelve Angry Jurors was performed November 2, 3, and 4 in the Learning Commons at Calvin Christian High School. The performance area was set up as a “black box theater” so that the audience surrounded the stage area. This unusual setting provided the right amount of connection between actor and audience, mimicking the feel of an actual trial and increasing the intensity of the performance.
The prologue, written by the director, Mr. Jewett, set a serious and mysterious tone and showcased actors like Naomi Mendez who embraced her role of a melodramatic woman.
Then, the twelve angry jurors took the stage, and emotions ran high. Each character took their turn voicing their opinions and shouting down others’. While a verdict seemed obvious from the prologue, Juror Eight (Van Wyhe) used logic and questioning to slowly convert other jurors to her side of “not guilty.” Juror Seven (Jared Ebels) provided comic relief, and the audience burst into laughter at every show due to his delivery. Juror Five (Sam Aupperlee) showed powerful emotion and great knife-wielding skills that shocked the audience and added interest.
Throughout the show, Juror Three (Nicole Gibbard) remained in opposition to the group, unwilling to change her vote from “guilty.” In a final monologue, Nicole’s character revealed her troubled past with her own son that led her to her vote. “I can feel the knife going in,” she said. The audience hung onto every word as Nicole displayed compelling emotion that felt very real.
The play was a success every night, earning laughs, tears, and thunderous applause. Emphasizing the power of one person, The Twelve Angry Jurors reminded everyone that “concrete” perceptions can be wrong.
If you missed this performance, it is a true shame, but make sure to catch the next Calvin Drama Society production, Mary Poppins, coming in March!
PC: Ashlyn Ritsema
