HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- The 2016 season of the Hot Springs Village Players will start with a stirring drama set in a jury room, as it presents Reginald Rose's "Twelve Angry Men," a classic play made famous by the 1957 film starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb.
The cast will emulate the tense emotional relationships of 12 angry jurors in a theater-in-the-round setting, which is a first for the Players in its 37-year history. Tempers flare as differences of opinion are revealed. One juror feels that a man's life is important enough to discuss the possibility of innocence, while 11 others quickly proclaim guilt. The powerful dialogue and actions slowly create a change of heart in the jurors, as they realize their personal prejudices have kept them from seeing the truth.
Veteran Players Glen Robertson and Jack Iafrate will play the principal protagonist and antagonist. Joining them will be Players members Herm Dobscha, Frank Nilson, Matt Pulscher, Bill Jervis and Ken Silvers. In addition, newcomers to the group will include Alan Trippel, Mickey Jordan, Michael Dollar, Gary Brandt and Peter Emery.
Because of the emotional nature of this play, the audience seating will be limited to 170 per performance. This will allow viewers to be close to the action taking place on an elevated platform. Special arrangements for sound and lighting have been a big consideration to make the event seem very real, as if the audience is in the jury room with the cast.
Director Bill Lamoureux conceived the staging and technical aspects of the work. He is relatively new to directing, but has a wealth of acting experience and sees the pitfalls of producing a work that takes place at a single table. He stresses that the power of language, reactions and timing will make this work unforgettable.
The play will be presented Feb. 27-29 in the Coronado Community Center auditorium, 150 Ponderosa Way.
Tickets are available online at http://www.HSVTicketSales.com, or by calling 501-922-4231.
Local on 01/19/2016