12 Angry Jurors
at Costa Mesa High School

Reviewed on November 14, 2013

Jacqueline Liu
Fountain Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Cappies review: "12 Angry Jurors"
Tensions run high in Costa Mesa's '12 Angry Jurors'

By JACQUELINE LIU
For the Orange County Register

Jacqueline Liu is a Senior at Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley.


A procession of characters from all walks of life – male, female, young, old, black, white – fills the jury room, quietly taking their seats, hanging up their coats, unbeknownst of the changes coming.

So begins 12 Angry Jurors, a 1954 teleplay adapted by Costa Mesa High School's theatre program. The premise is simple enough: a 19-year-old boy is on trial for first-degree murder, and the jurors must choose between a death sentence and an acquittal.

All around the table are twelve very different characters with their own personal story and background. Some are shy; others are strong-willed; some speak up only when needed. And then there's Juror #8, played by a somber yet beautiful Maya Lee-Lopez whose stunning declaration of "not guilty" catalyzes the story.

Playing opposite to her is the fiery Juror #3, played by Semeria Anderson, who begs to differ. Anderson stays consistent in character throughout the show, punctuating her lines with exclamation and stomping her heels on stage in times of distress. Determined that the 19-year-old boy is guilty, Anderson's caustic demeanor plays off on Lee-Lopez's compassion and warmth. Lee-Lopez shines when she's performing alongside Anderson, her strength and certainty a stark contrast to Anderson's biting sarcasm.

Other memorable performances in this high-tension play include Juror #11, played by Mary Raus, and Juror #2, played by Rodrick Edwards. Raus's character does not start out saying much, but as the guilty verdicts dwindle, her will and independence glow brighter and brighter. Raus brings the immigrant viewpoint to the stage, and with every line the audience is pulled in deeper and deeper. Rodrick Edwards's Juror #2 adds a gentle touch to the ensemble. Although his lines are few, Edwards shines through his timidity, and his outburst at Juror #10 (Rachel Russell) brings a rush of satisfaction to the audience.

12 Angry Jurors asks many difficult questions, but has no easy answers. The ensemble shines bright with diversity and complexity, encouraging the audience to explore ideas of justice, death and capital punishment. As the jury room empties, a troubling sense of moral ambiguity pervades the audience - a powerful effect that comes only as a result of a powerful show.

Kristen Daniels
Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Cappies review: "12 Angry Jurors"
Audiences are guilty of loving Costa Mesa's 12 Angry Jurors

By KRISTEN DANIELS
For the Orange County Register

Kristen Daniels is a Senior at Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts in Huntington Beach.


Recently, Costa Mesa High School produced a thrilling rendition of the famous play 12 Angry Jurors, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story line revolves around a court case in the 1950s regarding a young boy who allegedly stabbed his father, and twelve jurors who must decipher his guilt or innocence. Each juror is an individual, key aspect to the outcome of the play and, overall, keeps the audience guessing the final verdict until the very end.

Each student produces a magnificent performance individually and works well as a unit. The entire show is done without leaving the jury room so each actor is always on stage. Some standouts of the show are the level-headed Juror #8, played by Maya Lee-Lopez, and the feisty Juror #3, played by Semeria Anderson. These two actors work as each other's foil throughout the show and provide the play's main conflict, since Juror #3 advocates for guilty and Juror #8 advocates for not guilty. Both women portray their passion for their side and work well as the show's main conflict. Each actor in the show is highly committed to his or her character and works hard to make his or her individual realistic, either through blowing their nose, grabbing a cup of water, or fanning themselves due to the hot jury room.

Even though some actors stumbled some of their lines, this provides a more realistic and convincing performance for the audience, since the actors are invested in portraying genuine characters. At times some actors' passion seems overdone, but it is evident that they all love what they were doing, as seen through the distinct character choices they give their roles.

All in all, this show proved to be an exhilarating thrill for the audience to enjoy and left them wanting more, as seen through the roar of the applause at the final bows. This show is definitely not one to miss.

Noah Hapke
Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Cappies review: "12 Angry Jurors"


By NOAH HAPKE
For the CAPPIES

Noah Hapke is a Junior at Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts in Huntington Beach.

Adapted from the 1954 version of Reginald Rose's play, Costa Mesa High School students expand on 12 Angry Jurors and illustrate the beauty of theatre, as well as the error in today's court system.

As the show progresses, so do the characters' personalities and ideals. From the beginning, Juror #8, played by Maya Lee-Lopez, sticks with her gut feeling and maintains a stiff demeanor throughout the entire show. From the tone of her voice to her strong stature, one may almost forget that a high school student plays this character. Whereas Juror #8 holds the same attitude throughout, others develop differently and beautifully transform the play in a way that leaves the audience suspended in their seats.

Juror #3, played by Semeria Anderson, begins by acting as a plain and bitter lady, unmoved by the case. However, she drastically transforms throughout the show and, like many other actors, becomes the character. When she strikes down the knife at Juror #8's heart, Juror #8 stands motionless and this moment steals the audience's breath, for the way both ladies handle the situation is astonishing.

Although there are multiple standout actors, the true beauty of this show is the way the twelve jurors work together to become one cabinet. Even though much of the show is a fireball of rapid arguments from one person to another, never does a single actor forget the character that he or she is playing.

Towards the end of the play, after more jurors change their vote to "not guilty," Juror #3 remains static on her opinion. Finally, however, she breaks out into a panic and begins to weep on stage, creating a catapulting part of the final act.

Once each juror leaves the stage, he or she walks away with a different viewpoint and a different character overall. After the jurors are all gone, we, as viewers in the audience, have the chance to formulate our own opinion on the matter and resolve the problem within ourselves. The students do a phenomenal job with this performance, such a great job that seeing this show one time is not enough. Each and every student should be extremely proud of all his or her work. This truly is a fantastic production and anyone would be lucky enough to witness this case of talent.