This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's supposed to be a civil duty any upstanding citizen would greet with open arms, and a bit of fun. But in today's overstressed workplace, where missing even one day behind the cubicle means a mad dash to catch up the following day, jury duty is almost universally avoided and loathed. Reginald Rose's teleplay "Twelve Angry Man," inspired by the writer's own experience deliberating a trial, shows why anyone averse to arguments and conflict might feel the same way. Each of the twelve men serving duty are reduced to numbers 1 through 12, remain in one room throughout, and must agree on the guilt or innocence of a teenage boy accused of murdering his father. West Jordan Theater Arts' production promises to be as bracing and tense as the 1954 version that debuted on the television series "Studio One," and then some. It went on to earn three Emmy Awards for Rose, the director and ensemble cast member Robert Cummings. If you have kids unfamiliar with drama, whether on stage or television, now's your chance to take them in tow to give them a good, old-fashioned dose of vintage theater many people have forgotten. In the words of the presiding judge, Rose's work is one to "deliberate earnestly and thoughtfully."
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Reginald Rose's "Twelve Angry Men" at West Jordan City Hall
When • March 16-26, 7:30 p.m.
Where • West Jordan City Hall, 8000 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan.
Tickets • $5-$8. Call 801-294-1242 or visit http://www.sugarfactoryplayhouse.com for more information.