When Reginald Rose’s teleplay for “Twelve Angry Men” first aired in 1954, it was customary that only men would serve as members of a jury in a criminal trial.
In the nearly six decades since then, the teleplay was adapted into a stage play, then an Academy Award-nominated feature film, and the justice system likewise evolved into a more egalitarian format. The drama has frequently been performed as “Twelve Angry Jurors” in that time, as the anonymous nature of the characters allowed for a very easy transition to gender-blind casting.
The play focuses entirely on the deliberations of the jury as they decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. A unanimous decision is required — should they find the defendant guilty, he will face execution. It seems an open-and-shut case to everyone but one juror, who insists that the others make more thoughtful examinations of the evidence. The lone juror begins to sway others and personal biases become revealed as the arguments continue over a literal life-or-death decision.
IF YOU GO
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sunday beginning tomorrow through June 17
WHERE: Oyster Mill Playhouse, 1001 Oyster Mill Rd., Camp Hill
COST: $14, $16 opening night
INFO: www.oystermill.com; 717-737-6768