This week, the Watertown High School theater department is putting the final touches on its fall production of “12 Angry Jurors,” which will be performed this weekend, Nov. 16-18, in the Watertown Middle School auditorium. 

The play follows 12 arguing and contemplating jurors as they decide whether to convict a teenage boy for the murder of his father.

“Rehearsals are like organized chaos in the best way,” said junior Jaylyn Le, a member of the crew. “At the same time, knowing that we are getting closer to performing fills me with indescribable excitement.”

The play is based on the 1957 film “12 Angry Men,” which takes place almost entirely in a jury deliberation room and has become a staple showing in many WHS English classes. The change from “Men” to “Jurors” in the title reflects how jury duty is no longer limited to men, as well as promoting gender inclusivity within the cast.  

“By modernizing the show to include women,” said junior Sylvia Sakata, “it becomes more realistic and relatable to the audience, and also takes away from dated parts of the original show.”

Sakata, who will be performing in her third show at WHS, plays Juror No. 9, an “old lady who is initially afraid to share her opinions” but stands for logic and justice. 

Junior Christopher Papazian echoed Sakata, saying, “It is important to know however, that during the [1950s] time period of this play, only men were chosen to be jurors. So by doing this we are pointing out the wrongs of the past.”

Papazian stars as Juror No. 8, the leading role first brought to fame by actor Henry Fonda in the 1957 film version, who is the only juror to initially vote that the boy is not guilty, spawning the communication that shapes the story. Papazian, who, like other members of the cast, was excited to perform in a drama, because the last two WHS plays were comedies. 

“It’s good for actors to be exposed to all forms of acting,” he said. 

Junior Kiran Owens, who plays the plagued-by-prejudice Juror Np. 10, did note however that, in the manner of many dramas, “the play is incredibly dialogue-heavy and has almost no action.” This increase in dialogue challenges actors to memorize more lines and convey emotions and messages almost entirely through words and demeanor, as opposed to through action. This has given the show a demanding nature that has made the last few rehearsals difficult for many actors, although according to freshman Evelyn Kain, the runs seem “to get better each time.” In her inaugural role at WHS after two years of WMS productions, she plays a juror “who only thinks in charts and diagrams, and thinks of people in percentages.”

“We have to find creative ways to work with what we have,” Le said. 

However, even with fewer resources than in prior years, the crew has succeeded in creating everything from a pack of cigarettes to a courthouse set.

Helping guide the cast and crew through these challenges is director Robin Wilson, now in her third year at WHS as theater director and performing arts teacher.

“Her schedule is constantly packed,” said Papazian. “She’s almost always directing more than one show at a time, and stays really late into the nights making sure all is according to plan. She is always there to help us, and is constantly giving us great feedback on how to improve our performances.”

Sakata agrees, saying Wilson’s “constant positivity and enthusiasm reaches us all.” When asked how she wants audiences to react to the show, Sakata hopes that, considering the themes of the play and the provocative topics and characters threaded throughout, “audiences will walk away understanding that personal prejudice isn’t necessarily truth.” 

Papazian agrees, encouraging audiences to engage with the message that “prejudice is everywhere, and those who are able to notice it, point it out, and fight for what’s right are the people who are really strong.”

Despite the weighty subject matter, senior Leanne Centola asks audiences not to feel afraid to laugh at the show’s funny moments, as “laughing helps us perform better because we know that people are actually enjoying themselves.” 

(“12 Angry Jurors” will be performed Friday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets are free to students, $5 to students from other schools and people 65+, and $10 to everyone else.)

–Nov. 13, 2023 —