Theater Review "Twelve Angry Men" John W. Engeman Theater

THEATER REVIEW

“Twelve Angry Men”

Produced by: The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport

Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur 

Those who saw the original teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” on CBS-TV in 1954 recall the sterling live performances of Franchot Tone, Robert Cummings, and Edward Arnold as Jurors Number 3, 8, and 10 respectively. In the acclaimed 1957 motion picture treatment of the Reginald Rose classic involving juror preconception, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Fonda, and Ed Begley were well-cast in those choice roles. And forty years later, the same parts were played by George C. Scott, Jack Lemmon, and “Forest Gump” co-star Mykelti Williamson. That 1997 film version of the courthouse drama finally gave way in 2004 to the first Broadway version of “Twelve Angry Men.”

With a first-rate acting pedigree like that, the Engeman’s veteran Casting Director Stephen DeAngelis must have felt hard-pressed to come up with a stellar trio for Director Igor Goldin to work with, but he doesn’t disappoint.

Michael Boland, as the temperamental Juror #3, shows us why he was so widely heralded in “An Enemy of the People” on Broadway. He portrays the abrasive antagonist to a fare-thee-well, and one can readily understand why he was chosen for the national touring company of this play.

Boland’s opposite number, Stephen Hauck, handles the sensitive role of Juror #8, made famous by Henry Fonda in “Twelve Angry Men’s” first big-screen film version. He’s the lead dissenter on the panel, of course, and as such he nicely sets the tone for the compelling scenario that is to follow.

Juror #10 in this troika is Adam Heller, and the bigoted loudmouth is eminently believable in his pushy portrayal of the hypocritical garage owner who won’t take no for an answer. You certainly won’t fall in love with Heller, but you won’t soon forget Juror #10, either. In fact, you might even recognize him from his television appearances in episodes of “The Sopranos” and “Law & Order.”

These plum roles are among the choicest ever to hit the renowned Engeman stage, but attendees at last Saturday’s official opening (the show runs through November 3) were treated to a perhaps surprising display of stagecraft in the portrayal of Juror #9. Joseph Ragno plays the wise old man on the jury with the same degree of tenderness achieved by Hume Cronyn in the ’97 film, and he very nearly steals the show!

Possibly the most significant upshot of Engeman’s ambitious mounting of this ageless play is that it proves the Northport production company is adept and thoroughly professional in totally different theatrical genres. Consider that Director Igor Goldin returns to the Engeman stage fresh from this summer’s smash hit “South Pacific.” Any director who can excel at guiding a bunch of girl-hungry Sailors along the sands of Bali-Hai…then turn around and take the measure of a dozen dissimilar adjudicators in a locked jury room…such a person is worth his weight in plaudits.

As for this production’s set, sound, and lighting, all are top-notch…in fact, the set is as good as any this reviewer has seen recently.

The theater itself, of course, is as elegant as its administrative staff is extraordinary. Both the physical plant and The Engeman human resources are eminently successful in bringing Broadway caliber theater to suburban Long Island, and this timely offering should not be missed.

Jeb LadouceurAward-winning Smithtown author Jeb Ladouceur has published seven novels. His theater reviews appear in dozens of L. I. newspapers. In Ladouceur’s next thriller, “The Dealer” due this summer, Israeli extortionists threaten to destroy Hoover Dam demolishing the Las Vegas Strip - if casino operators don’t pay millions.