The Verdict on Twelve Angry Jurors
On January 27-29, students from Western Reserve Academy performed three excellent shows of Twelve Angry Jurors, a play highlighting the quality of student theater at WRA.
KFAC—Overcoming personal biases, a twelve-person jury must decide the fate of a teenage boy charged with the murder of his father.
That is the narrative of the courthouse drama Twelve Angry Jurors, which played in the KFAC auditorium from January 27 to January 29. Addressing heavy, pressing topics such as reasonable doubt, prejudice, and justice, the winter play was viewed by students, faculty, and family members supporting the talented student actors at Western Reserve Academy.
Mira Zamarro ’24, who sat next to this critic, was one of these supporters. “I went to support my friends that were a part of the cast and crew, but it [ended up being a really good show as well],” she noted.
In a play with little action and a simple set, the story relies heavily on dialogue and body language. The play’s cast tackled this material with convincing poise and maturity.
Landon Allis ’23, serving as Foreman of the Jury, delivered his lines with extraordinary conviction and control, while Stephen Kosco ’24 (Juror 12), Josie Flauto ’24 (Juror 10), and Finn Frato-Sweeney ’26 (Juror 7) contrasted blunt, comedic lines with passionate rants.
All of the cast members spoke their lines with precision, and even if there were small slip-ups in their reading, every conversation flowed naturally without major interruptions.
Frato-Sweeney and Skye Graham ’23 (Juror 2) also deserve praise for fully embodying the unique physical characteristics of their roles.
It should come as no surprise that Finn Barger ’24 and Rachel Ott ’23 are the standout actors of the show, playing two opposing jurors.
The feud between Barger and Ott created a captivating tension onstage. “I genuinely thought someone was going to die,” Ethan Jing ’25 remarked following the performance.
Barger, in his WRA theater debut, brought incredible intensity to the role of Juror 3. The subtle emotion he expressed in his words and the unbridled anger in his actions highlighted the clear effort he put into his role.
Ott, a theater veteran, added another strong performance to her repertoire as Juror 8. Ott’s expressive posture and her impression of an elderly man brought vibrant life into the calm demeanor of her character. Her emotional prowess is also nothing to scoff at; when Juror 8 is distraught by Juror 3’s game of Tic-Tac-Toe, Ott demonstrated that she can transition to powerful rage with ease.
Though the play ends in a positive light, the confrontations witnessed by the audience tackle multiple societal issues that transcend time. As a result, the portrayal of these characters by high school students is even more poignant.
Ms. Karam ’79, director of the choir, orchestra, and spring musical Mean Girls, commented, “I think it’s a really important show for everyone to see and I think it should be required for every kid everywhere… this show was written in the 1950s but it seems like it could’ve been written yesterday.”
However, some members of the audience revealed that they were bored by the play, citing a lack of action. Others, like Jing, found themselves on the edge of their seat. Time will tell how the Fine and Performing Arts Department will address this next year.
Mrs. Ong, the director of Twelve Angry Jurors, has nothing but high praise for her performers. “To be on stage for an hour and twenty minutes… it’s a huge accomplishment and these kids did it with grace. They were amazing,” she remarked.
Indeed, the cast of Twelve Angry Jurors deserves nothing but congratulations for a job well done. In a well-rehearsed, captivating performance, WRA has once again proven the quality of student theater.
Rating: 4.5/5
– Cavin Xue ’24
The Reserve Record 