Twelve Angry Women
at Western High School

Reviewed on November 9, 2018

Olivia Vera
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

French writer Voltaire once said, "It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one." Will Voltaire's words ring true in Western High School's production of 12 Angry Women?

The show is an adaptation of the television play 12 Angry Men written by Reginald Rose. Fifty years after premiering on CBS, 12 Angry Men made its Broadway debut at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 328 performances. The show was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play and won the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Play.
Adapted by Sherman Sergel, the show tells the story of 12 members of a jury that must decide the fate of a young teen who is accused of killing his father.

Each juror did an excellent job of creating an individual character for themselves as well as maintaining energy throughout the whole play. Some standout characters were Juror #8 and Juror #3. Juror #8 (Ishani Kamalani) was passionate and consistent in everything she did. Kamalani delivered her lines clearly and confidently which made her statements and her character believable. Opposing #8 was Juror #3, (Zoe Petit) who delivered an angry, powerful performance. Petit's impressive physicality and range of emotion provided a captivating character.

Another praiseworthy performance was the portrayal of Juror #10 by Nicole Ehrlich. Ehrlich had a commanding stage presence and delivered a purposeful and powerful performance. This was shown exceptionally during her monologue towards the end of the show. Each actress did an excellent job of understanding their character and working with each other to provide a realistic storyline. Although there were a few instances where there was a disconnect with the characters and flow of the storyline, the actresses kept consistent energy from start to finish. Each actress was convincing and committed to their character which aided in their powerful performance.

The technical aspects of the show were well executed. The lights helped in focusing attention on important aspects of the show as well as setting the tone and mood for scenes. Lights did a great job, especially in the opening scene, using strobe lights to provide mugshot-like flashes. Stage management was well-organized and efficient, which assisted with the smooth show. The publicity team also did an impressive job of promoting their show within the school with creative ideas involving pins, BuzzFeed quizzes, and extra credit.

Overall, Western High Schools production of 12 Angry Women was exceptional and told an important story of prejudice, justice, and standing up for what you believe.

Olivia Te Kolste
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

One man is dead; another's life is at stake. It's up to the Western High School's appointed jury to sort through facts and testimonies and determine whether or not a young boy accused of murder deserves to die in their production of Twelve Angry Women.

Originally a television courtroom drama by the name of Twelve Angry Men, the show was first adapted for the stage by Reginald Rose in 1964 in London. It debuted on Broadway forty years later, where it was critically acclaimed and even nominated for the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Chronicling the intense deliberation of a jury after a seemingly cut-and-dry murder case, Twelve Angry Women explores the flawed American justice system and seeks to unearth the true meaning of the term "reasonable doubt."

At the beginning of the show, every juror except Juror #8 wholeheartedly believes the accused to be guilty. Portrayed by Ishani Kamalani, Juror 8 managed to sow a seed of doubt within all of the remaining jurors, even while being subjected to ardent opposition exposing the inconsistencies within the seemingly airtight story. Kamalani remained consistently energetic throughout the performance, imbuing into her character heart-wrenching sincerity and passion as she fervently upheld her case. Though playing an indisputably difficult role, Kamalani took to the job exceedingly well, instilling her role with impressive maturity and composure.

Among her most zealous opponents was Juror 10, played by Nicole Ehrlich, whose vehement ardor shone onstage whilst delivering her painfully bigoted soliloquy to the turned backs of her fellow jurors. Opposing the borderline hysteria was the cool rationale of Juror 4, portrayed by Sofia Gonzalez; though also among 8's strongest opposition, Juror 4 remained equanimous and composed throughout the entirety of the various arguments. Gonzalez upheld her character's cool composure exceedingly well, retaining a persona of maturity that stood out among the pandemonium wrought by the explosive emotions of the others. As a whole, though the cast occasionally struggled with projection, they overall maintained excellent pacing, as well as a palpably tense dynamic through their contrasting individual portrayals of each juror.

In terms of tech, the show ran relatively smoothly, with the exception of a few delayed light cues. The lighting successfully mimicked the 1950's-style, whilst also implementing numerous dramatic lighting configurations. For instance, the decision to bathe the stage in bright orange during moments of intensity greatly assisted in heightening the tension present onstage.

Overall, though a difficult production, Western High School took to the task admirably in a laudable performance that showcased both the cast and crew's talents remarkably well.

Charlotte Bacharach
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone, even if you believe in something very strongly." A duty: separating the facts from the fancy. Twelve women. One verdict.

Written originally in 1954 by Reginald Rose as the teleplay "12 Angry Men," its debut included three Academy Award nominations, and its 2004 Broadway premiere earned a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Play. Adapted by Sherman Siegel, "12 Angry Women" entails the search for truth beneath dubiety and dissension, exploring the human conviction to morals and subsequent impact of democracy. Audiences are transported into the deliberation room where jurors are tasked with convicting a 19-year-old boy to life or death in a case of murder in the first degree. The discussion begins as a simple ‘guilty' consensus, though one juror stands opposed. Western High School's "12 Angry Women" depicted captivating, striking tensions as jurors argued and debated, revealing issues not only of evidence and theory, but of ethics and morality.

Coaxing the hot-headed women into discussion was Juror 8, portrayed by Ishani Kamalani. The difficult role required delicate seclusion from the ensemble due to Juror 8's deviated verdict, and a strong emotional range to reflect the adversity ensued; Kamalani excelled in both. Personifying a grown woman and her moral struggles, Kamalani crafted her stage relationships to manifest the intense poignancy, and spoke with a distinct vocal quality establishing an air of maturity and equanimity.

Accompanying Kamalani on stage were standout supporting actresses. Contrasting though just as robust in their own sense, Juror 4 (Sofia Gonzalez) and Juror 10 (Nicole Ehrlich) proved powerful forces within the deliberation room. Gonzalez perturbed tensions as a peaceful persona mediating conflict, speaking with proper diction to illustrate her arguments. Opposite to her was Ehrlich as Juror 10, upholding her characterization with fiery distaste and brazen criticism. She moved with pronounced purpose from the moment the curtain rose, and persisted throughout the play with focus in each scene. Ehrlich most memorably shone in her Act 3 monologue, delivered with outstanding dynamic distinguished by an organic blend of temper and vulnerability.

The whole of the cast was present on stage throughout the production. A difficult feat to keep audiences intrigued during stationary scenes, the actresses faced this with tenacious poise, crafting resolute pacing and noteworthy articulation. Though many performers struggled with projection, Emma Wasserman as Juror 7 suffered technical difficulties leaving her without a mic, yet spoke with determined volume and tone.

The technicalities of "12 Angry Women" complemented the cast doggedly. Prior to the show, Marketing and Publicity worked on-campus and off — through extra credit initiatives, social media postings, community newsletters, and more — epitomizing their diligent endeavors. On stage, the costumes suited the time period appropriately, creating both an eye-catching ensemble aesthetic and distinctive individual style.

As ‘guilty' transformed to ‘not' throughout an enthralling play, Western High School brought to life "12 Angry Women." Facing the challenge of a difficult script with scrupulous aplomb, actresses and technical teams alike displayed their tireless efforts in a commendable production.

Nick Vela
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Tension, ignorance, prejudice, and "doubt beyond a reasonable amount," all abruptly arose as Western High School's powerful performance of "12 Angry Women" unraveled. With the fate of a young man's life hanging in the balance, a jury, consisting of twelve drastically distinctive women, must deliberate and conclude the ultimate verdict.

Based of the the 1954 teleplay and the 2004 Broadway play (12 Angry Men), "12 Angry Women" was written by Reginald Rose. "12 Angry Men" originally performed in 1964 as a London production and later made its Broadway debut on October 28, 2004 by the Roundabout Theatre Company. The show lasted 328 performances, being nominated for the 2005 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, and won the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Portraying Juror 8, Ishani Kamalani, did a phenomenal job, using her relatively larger role to drive the story forward with her stunning presence. Kamalani embodied her character exceptionally well, as shown in her poised physicality, and delivered her lines clearly, while still having a variation in inflection. Playing Juror 3, another larger role, Zoe Petit also provided outstanding characterization. Petit was magnificent in exemplifying a huge amount of energy with her explosive personality, as well as providing a foundation for those of the jury who felt that the defendant was guilty. The tension built between Kamalani and Petit was extremely present, creating higher stakes and a more dramatic conflict.

Nicole Ehrlich (Juror 10) and Sofia Gonzalez (Juror 4) both aided in better conveying the story's plot. Their use of clear diction and projection allowed for a greater understanding of the play and, specifically Gonzalez, had a splendid presence and commanded the stage. I would also like to acknowledge Ashley Shrewsbury (Juror 5) because although having a smaller part her characterization was very prevalent, directly shown in all of the minor mannerisms she displayed.

The entire cast as a whole did a particularly marvelous job in being cohesive, while still maintaining their immensely different individualities. Each juror had a very specific character with varying physicalities, mannerisms, and values, yet the most significant aspect of the cast was the gradual build in friction between the jurors, which allowed for an incredibly genuine performance.

The technical features of the production were all executed exquisitely. The simplistic set was efficient and the elaborate costumes allowed for a clear visual distinguishment between all characters. Although, the sound did have some minor inconsistencies and the lighting equipment's potential could have been exploited further, they were both used appropriately and didn't distract from the action happening on stage. The stage management did a commendable job in calling the queues as accurately as possible and by doing so, did not disrupt the flow of the show.

With a nineteen year old boy's life in the hands of twelve angry women, no one can truly tell what the verdict will be. Providing an essential message of how personal flaws can cloud someone's judgement, Western High School's production of "12 Angry Women" was "guilty" of giving a captivating and impactful performance.

Leah Tomas
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"Facts may be colored by the personalities of the people who present them." -Reginald Rose. When 12 women of the jury are presented with a murder case in which their verdict will determine whether or not a young man lives or dies, trouble emerges as personal perspectives cloud their judgement and interfere with their ability to determine what innocence truly implies. Western High School's production of "12 Angry Women" proves that critical thinking and collaboration under pressure can save a life.

"12 Angry Women" is based on the Emmy-winning 1954 teleplay written by Reginald Rose entitled "12 Angry Men". 50 years after the teleply aired on CBS, "12 Angry Men" premiered on Broadway with the Roundabout Theatre Company on October 28, 2004 starring Boyd Gaines as Juror 8 and Philip Bosco as Juror 3. "12 Angry Men" was nominated for the 2005 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, and won the 2005 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Leading this production were Ishani Kamalani (Juror 8), and Zoe Petit (Juror 3). Kamalani effortlessly captured the fair and just nature of her character during her performance, and possessed a confident and commanding stage presence. This provided a refreshing contrast to the loud and abrasive persona created by Zoe Petit. Both actresses demonstrated brilliant characterization and extensively developed relationships with their fellow performers.

Julia Pihokken (Foreman), Sofia Gonzalez (Juror 4), and Nicole Ehrlich (Juror 10) supported the cast with their displays of excellent focus and clear objectives throughout the production. Elizabeth Coley (Juror 11) did a wonderful job including a well executed European dialect to her speaking and diction. Each actress depicted a well-orchestrated mixture of characteristics and mannerisms contributing to their portrayal of women of varying ages.

The jury as a whole exemplified a unique dynamic that shifted throughout the production. The gradual buildup of tension and suspense among the ensemble allowed for an incredibly believable performance. Each character had a clear arc of development throughout the performance as the actions of one woman changed their thought processes surrounding the innocence of those associated with the murder trial. The group was cohesive, yet consisted of an extremely diverse group of distinct characters, both in vocal inflection, age, mannerisms, and moral beliefs.

The technical elements of this production were nearly flawless. The use of balanced and colorful costuming as well as hair styling and makeup allowed for a visually pleasing production and easily identified characters. Both the costumes and setting accurately set the time period of the show. Though the sound aspect of the production appeared to experience some minor inconveniences throughout the performance, the actors did a fantastic job projecting their voices out into the theater. The inclusion of strobe lighting effects added a creative touch to the opening of the show.

Featuring the gripping story of the conflicts and deliberation leading up to the ultimate determination of a young man's innocence or destruction, as well as an emphasis on the importance of cooperation and communication, Western High School's production of "12 Angry Women" was proven to be exquisite beyond a reasonable doubt.