This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov 17, 2011 - Personalities clash and doubt rises in Northwest High School's first drama, "Twelve Angry Jurors," which portrays 12 jurors trying to determine the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murdering his father. While the decision seems obvious at first, one juror tips the scale and launches a deeper evaluation of the crime. Within minutes, a brief vote turns into a serious reconsideration.
With her peers certain of the guilt of the young man being tried, Juror #8, played by Annabelle Gynard, prevents a unanimous decision from being reached by voting "not guilty" in the initial tally. Although she is perceived, at first, as a trouble-maker, she manages to sway the opinions of other jurors by presenting reasonable doubt of the man's guilt. Gynard exhibits her character in a very sincere manner, with emotion coloring her voice and a believable earnestness. She bears her part with maturity and grace, stealing the spotlight with every calm, dignified line.
Her antagonist, Juror #3, played by Matt Arndt, is a brilliant contrast, secure in his belief of the young man's guilt. Arndt has many scenes that require high emotion, and he certainly brings that to the stage. With tension in his voice and strong, animated gestures, he relates the fury of his character exceptionally well. Both leads are effective and powerful, which is partially why the play is so memorable.
Others who contributed were supporting actors Ronnie Keel, as Juror #9, Megan Wallace, as Juror #4, and Miah Robinson, as Juror #7. Keel, who portrays an old man, gave a moving performance, showing deeper layers of sorrow and grief as he relates to certain pieces of the crime. Wallace commanded attention with her confidence and excellent vocal carriage, bringing a new dimension to her character, who is willing to hear out both arguments. Robinson's sharp remarks add even more drama to the scene as she radiates attitude and a need to cause trouble. All three were excellent highlights during the heated dispute between Gynard and Arndt.
While most of the cast delivered their lines convincingly, others had difficulty allowing the sentences to flow naturally. Because of this, the play's believability faltered at times but was soon picked up by more effective conversations. Along with that, the actors who were not showcased were a little dull. It would have helped to see them acting as though they were actually under the conditions their characters complained of. For example, a person with a cold should probably have tissues. Almost every character remarked on the heat but there was only one instance of an actress, not speaking at the time, fanning herself. These may be the only flaws, however, as the rest of the show was wonderfully presented.
The actors were allowed to shine on stage with a skillfully made set and period-appropriate costumes. Though some actresses' hairstyles did not match the time, 1954, every other detail was beautifully attended to.
Northwest High School's production of "Twelve Angry Jurors" was an emotional journey. Its powerful conclusion, and success, was made possible by the brilliant actors that commanded the stage, and the attention, of everyone watching.
About the Cappies
The Critics and Awards Program for high school theater -- known as Cappies -- was formed in the aftermath of the Columbine shooting to celebrate writing and performing arts at America's high schools. It operates chapters across the nation.
St. Louis' program was launched in 2002-03.
At the end of the year, the top performers, technicians and reviewers are honored during a Tony-style gala.
The Beacon is happy to help spread the word by printing some reviews.
Meghan Edwards is a student at Holt High School.