In the Springs, Funky Little Theater Company gets serious with a well-done classic
There are compelling performances in “12 Angry Men” doing justice to the iconic courtroom drama now playing at the Funky Little Theater Company in Colorado Springs.
Performed in a single act on a static and simplistic set, the talented ensemble captivates in this classic old-school drama. Seventy years after its film debut, the message is timeless: Prejudice always obscures the truth.
Here’s the setup: 12 men have just heard closing arguments in a murder trial and must decide the fate of an inner-city boy accused of killing his violent father. Playwright Sherman Sergel introduces the dozen by only their juror number, however the storyline is a deep dive into their characters. The audience will feel like part of the jury, seeing themselves in the jurors for better or worse.
Believing it’s an open and shut case, 11 of the 12 jurors immediately weigh in with a guilty verdict, eager to complete their civic duty by dinnertime — that is until Juror #8 casts the proverbial doubt on the prosecution’s case.
The banter that follows is well-written and finely executed. Some actors are clear standouts while others fill the chairs. The audience is transported into the scene as the sequestered dozen dissect the evidence and each other.
The holdout
As the lone holdout for acquittal, John Longo shines in his portrayal of Juror #8 (Henry Fonda in the 1957 film). Grueling and difficult conversation ensues when Longo’s character shifts the dynamic with a single line. “There were 11 votes for ‘guilty.’ It’s not easy for me to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first.”
And talk they do! Clad in dark suits and ties, sweating in the summer heat of mid-century NYC with no a/c, the 12 must reach a unanimous verdict before they can call it a day. But it won’t come easy.
Pacing and synergy are what makes this cast pull off what might be a sleeper. Funky’s Artistic Director, Chris Medina, who doubles as snarky Juror #10, has aptly guided each actor to hone their character. Beyond lines (and several of the actors have very few) the jurors collectively speak body language with perfection.
The small stage with its huge table and hard wooden chairs underscores the onerous task of deliberating. We feel the heat of the room and the rising temperatures between them.
Among the jury there are the quiet and contemplative, the cocky, bloviating, passive, aggressive, muted and all points between. The 12 are a perfect storm of anger and disagreement as the story unfolds.
Patrick Neill, a local theatre veteran, is hotheaded Juror #3, driven to compete, win and step on others along the way. The jury’s foreman, played by Cory Rothermal, is a calming force that can bring the group back to task as tempers flare.
Greg Thornton, as Juror #7, chews his gum with conviction, making it clear that he has some place better to be. Juror #12, (Mark Tachna, a first-time Funky performer) treats us to the only lines close to humor in the play as an arrogant adman never stifling his pitch.
The remaining jurors are a mix of quiet consensus-builders, speaking when asked but seemingly only to serve others’ agendas. A second vote occurs, and Juror #8 has brought half the flock to ‘reasonable doubt.’ Infuriated, the breach stirs emotions that almost come to blows.
The ensemble replicates the play’s contentious build with credibility. The ending will not surprise, but getting there is both intriguing and relatable. Juror #8 gives us a fine lesson in the art of persuasion and negotiation, but he also speaks to our deep-seeded mantra to do right the right thing.
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