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.

Memorial To Seamus Byrne Removed

By Maureen Rossi

The life of Seamus Byrne was cut far too short; he left this world after celebrating his 33^rd birthday.  However, the decorated war veteran did not lose his life in a battlefield in Afghanistan when nine of his brother’s succumbed to a suicide bomber, he lost it when he stepped off the curb on Main Street in his home town of Smithtown.

Awarded a Purple Heart for valor overseas, Byrne suffered a head injury in 2008 in the bombing that took his fellow soldiers.   Byrne was born and raised in Kings Park and lived in Smithtown with his wife and two children at the time of his death.

His parents and wife have become friendly with Lavena Sipes of the Courtney SipesSmart Growth Awards Foundation who also lost her daughter to Main Street in Smithtown.  Both families were present at this year’s Vision Long Island Smart Growth Awards where Sipes and Smithtown Chamber of Commerce President Mark Mancini received an award for their safer streets initiative.

The Courtney Sipes memorial is a large one located on the corner of Main Street and Lawrence Ave, it has toys, stuffed animals, messages, a baby doll, some religious items and an American flag.  It was created by her family and young friends after her death in November of 2009.   It has been omnipresent since the child left the world and represents the things Courtney loved and the people who loved her.

A memorial to Seamus Byrne was erected immediately following his death.   Not as large as Courtney’s memorial, it was side by side to hers.  It included a beautiful photo of him that his father placed there.  The family also hung his fatigue hat and the beret he wore when the day he married his childhood sweetheart.  There were also some religious items, of photo of his family, an Irish flag and an American flag.   Just likes the Sipes memorial, it represented the things Byrne loved and the people who loved him.  

“I was in Ireland when one of my sons called my wife, he rode by the memorial and saw that it was gone,” said Byrne’s father Ollie.   His wife was in Ireland with him at the time; however, she didn’t share the information with her husband.  “She knew I’d get on the plane and head right back home,” he explained.    The elder Bryne said his family is deeply hurt by the act and that according to a good source in the Parks Department, they got orders to tear it down.  

Main St. Smithtown memorial to Seamus Byrne“All we wanted was someone to have the decency to call and let us know,” he added.  He said it wasn’t a big eyesore at all and it wasn’t bothering anyone.  “It was some basic stuff so when we drove by we could Bless ourselves,” he lamented.

Calls to Supervisor Vecchio and Thomas McCarthy led nowhere.   Both town officials said they weren’t even aware the memorial had been taken down and that they knew nothing about it.  Some theories arose that perhaps because it was a state road the D.O.T. removed them.  However, calls to the D.O.T. have yet to be returned.   What makes the incident stranger is that whoever took the items didn’t remove anything from the Sipes Memorial.  “I’m so glad that precious child’s memorial is still there for her family,” he explained.  He said the Sipes family are wonderful people and they’ve been happy to get to know them.

Byrne’s father was proud of the fact that his son was a highly decorated soldier and said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for his son when he left the world.   He has his son’s ring and told his grandson that he could have his late father’s ring when he turned sixteen.   “Every time he goes to my house, he goes through the boxes with his father’s things, he looks at them, the boy is here all the time,” he said.

The proud grandfather said his young grandson has a shrine to his father set up in his bedroom at home.   “We just want his beret back and his hat back so his son could have them.”   The Senior Byrnes said this whole thing was unconstitutional.   “I went right down to Town Hall, I’m just sick over it.”   He hasn’t got any answers yet but video tape from the owner’s of the shopping mall adjacent to the memorial is being sequestered. 

(if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the Seamus Bryne memorial, please send an email to news@smithtownmatters and include Maureen in the subject line and we can arrange to get the items for the family – no names – no questions).

Editorial - John J. LaValle - Party Leader OR Party Cheater?

September 10, 2013 was “Primary Day” for Republicans in Smithtown. It was the culmination of a very long hard fought battle.  There was bellowing from almost every candidate. Sign stealing was rampant throughout the campaign, although every candidate denied that their campaign would ever steal anyone’s literature or signs.  Finger pointing went on and on and on. But we expect that in the political season.

But what no one expected was an email blast sent out the day before the primary and a second the day of the primary from Suffolk County Republican Chairman John J. LaValle blatantly misrepresenting the Smithtown convention designees.  Was it an attempt to hijack the election? Or did he just assume Smithtown Republicans were asleep at the wheel and they wouldn’t know who  the party’s designees were?  Maybe he thought Smithtown primary voters are stupid and just go to the polls and follow party leader’s directives. 

What John J. LaValle thought is almost irrelevant, it is his actions that betrayed his intent. LaValle, a Robert Creighton supporter, sent out an email as Republican Chairperson misleading Smithtown’s Republican electorate. He replaced Party designee Patrick Vecchio with Robert Creighton’s name and then left off Thomas McCarthy’s name as a designee (a Vecchio supporter). LaValle’s email listed only Kevin Malloy’s name, a Creighton supporter, as a designee for councilman. La Valle did this despite the fact that voters were asked to select two candidates to represent the party in the November election.

Neither Robert Creighton nor Kevin Malloy won in the Republican primary.

Where is the integrity in lying to your Party’s voters Mr. LaValle? Creighton and Malloy lost perhaps due to your unconscionable behavior. There is no justification for this behavior and there certainly isn’t any room for this in Smithtown politics.  There is a Suffolk County Republican party convention at the end of this week. Will Mr. LaValle retain his position as county leader and how will Smithtown’s committee people vote? Will the Creighton - Malloy team support LaValle? If so, that will say a great deal about their integrity and their respect for both fair elections and the primary voters of Smithtown.

Mr. LaValle has boxed Councilmen Creighton and Malloy into a corner. No one should accept lying to voters. This is not the time to point fingers at Vecchio, it is time to clean up the mess your Chairman has left you. Send a message to New York State Chairman Cox telling him that this is unacceptable and show John J. LaValle to the door.

Pat

Smithtown Historical Society's Heritage Fair 2013

The Smithtown Historical Society held its annual Heritage Fair on Sunday. The weather could not have been better. Under a beautiful clear sky, visitors to the event were treated to hay rides, old fashion baseball, classic cars, animals, a fair share of local politicians and more.  First time visitors to the fair seemed to be surprised at the variety of activities offered. There were weaving demonstrations, civil war enactments and plenty of food to eat. Kathleen Albrecht, chairwoman of the event, refused to take credit for the weather but expressed her pleasure with the turnout which she said “gets better and better each year.”

Pre Election Chatter - Snair, Creighton and Malloy

Democratic Supervisor candidate Steve Snair, Councilmen Malloy and Creighton, NYS Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick in backgroundThree Smithtown candidates, Democrat Steve Snair and *Conservatives Kevin Malloy and Robert Creighton chat amicably before the November general election campaign gets into full swing.  Creighton and Malloy are seasoned campaigners and may be offering some pointers on how “not to approach” the election, having just lost their primary challenge. 

Creighton and Malloy just coming out of a brutal Republican primary battle vowed to continue with their campaigns. “We will be mounting a vigorous campaign from our positions on the Conservative line” promised Kevin Malloy. Mr. Creighton agreed and said he will continue with his efforts to unseat Patrick Vecchio.

Steve Snair, a candidate looking to defeat both Vecchio and Creighton in the November election, took it all in and suggested that he would be campaigning on the issues that are important to all of the residents of Smithtown.

*Both Creighton and Malloy are candidates on the Conservative line in the November election.