The first round of Nelson Play Readings is drawing to a close with the final scheduled reading set for January 25.
12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose promises to end the series on a strong note, as the popular script has been re-produced all over the world as well as adapted into several feature films. The most famous of these adaptations was the 1957 version directed by Sidney Lumet which starred Henry Fonda.
12 Angry Men famously tells the story of twelve jurors deliberating over the outcome of a trial. While eleven of the jurors are convinced that the defendant is guilty, one juror is not in agreement. The play centers around this juror’s attempts to sway the deeply held prejudices and intractable personalities of his fellow jurors. Raising questions of the nature of justice and the reliability of human judgement, 12 Angry Men is a timeless classic that continues to resonate today.
“The series has been so successful that we have definite plans to carry it on,” says Richard Rowberry of The Nelson Theatre Company. “We’ve raised several hundred dollars for charity, and have been happy to host some great evenings of theatre. We will be scheduling more readings in the near future — but 12 Angry Men will be the last one in this particular cycle.”
The reading is directed by Bessie Wapp and will feature a veritable who’s-who of local readers; Phil Sarsons, Richard Rowberry, Michael Graham, Brian d’Eon, Stephen Fowler, Michael Pearce, Ray Stothers, Bradley Roulston, Roger Ley, Mackenzie Hope, Geoff Burns, and Timothy Jackson will all be participating.
12 Angry Men takes place at 8 p.m. at the Church Hall (corner of Kootenay and Victoria). Tickets are $12, and are available at the door only. Proceeds will benefit the Kootenay Animal Assistance Program. Seats are limited, and guests are encouraged to arrive early.