'A Few Good Men' Turn 'Angry'
RLT Stages Another Compelling Courtroom Drama
This article was published on Thursday, September 14, 2006 6:17 PM CDT in Entertainment
By Becca Bacon Martin
The Morning News
ROGERS -- Audiences were mesmerized by the Rogers Little Theater production of "A Few Good Men," a courtroom drama that argues the rights of one man against the historic perspective of right and wrong in the unique world of the military.
While the characters are very different, that same kind of tension binds a dozen nameless jurors in "Twelve Angry Men," a Northwest Arkansas premiere on stage tonight at Rogers Little Theater's Victory Theater.
"The film is one of my favorites, and the story is wonderful," says director Lonna Arbuthnot. "One lone man standing up, not to protect the man on trial as much as to protect the legal process and the beliefs of America. It's timeless."
The 1957 film to which Arbuthnot refers was television director Sidney Lumet's first feature-length movie and was shot for just $350,000 in 17 days. It was nominated for three Academy Awards -- Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay -- but lost all three to another classic, "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
The story opens as the jury begins to deliberate the guilt or innocence of a young Spanish-American accused of murdering his father. It seems to be an open-and-shut case -- except in the mind of Juror No. 8 (Henry Fonda in the movie, Tom Pyron on the RLT stage). An architect by trade, Juror No. 8 instigates a thoughtful reconsideration of the case against the accused, mostly because he believes that the jury must be certain beyond a reasonable doubt.
"He is not the traditional hero as we know it," Pyron says of his character. He is a humble man with an immense compassion for those less fortunate than he, probably because of his hard upbringing. He is a successful architect, father of two fantastic children and a loving husband: the 'Cosmo' man of the day.
"Just as an architect will propose a structural solution and test it against the forces of physics and nature, he knows that the truth is almost always beneath the surface," Pyron says. "This would make him a rather liberal thinker of this time period, not assuming anything at face value."
As the discussion unfolds, the personal perspectives and prejudices of all of the jurors come into play: Juror No. 1, the high school coach who is determined to maintain his authority as foreman; No. 2, a bank teller who just wants to be part of the majority; No. 3, a bully whose estrangement from his own teenage son makes him hostile toward all young people; No. 4, a conceited stockbroker who treats the case like a puzzle to be solved rather than a question of life or death; No. 5, a naive man from a poor Jewish neighborhood who identifies with the defendant; No. 6, a "typical working man" who is just following the crowd; No. 7 a clown who just wants to make it to the ballgame; No. 9, a fair-minded man who rises to the occasion; No. 10, a nasty, repellent bigot; No. 11, a refugee who reveres the U.S. legal system; and No. 12, a superficial businessman who speaks in advertising jargon.
"Few people I speak to about this are not familiar with this story," Pyron says. "It answers obvious questions about prejudice, bigotry, getting past devastating personal challenges, the importance of social justice, and participation in our system. (Audience members) may walk away with an inspiration to vote, or to speak to their lost child, mother, or father, or simply to look at their own social habits more closely. This piece has so many messages that could manifest in someone's mind! This is the primary reason why I think it is one of the most important stories in entertainment history."
Ed McClure, president of the RLT Board, points out that Arbuthnot has chosen a look that will be familiar to fans of the film.
"She is doing it like a black and white movie -- all the sets, costumes and props are black, white and gray," he explains.
The best part of the play has been getting to know the colorful actors behind the characters, says RLT veteran Arbuthnot.
"I have a marvelous cast, and each one of them has brought something to the stage. They've all worked very hard -- and it's been a lot of fun."
Arbuthnot is no stranger to the production process.
"I have been doing shows since 1990," she recalls. "I've been on stage in 26 shows and worked backstage on another 21! I loved playing Sister Mary Amnesia in the 'Nunsense' shows. I also really enjoyed being Aunt Eller in the 1997 production of 'Oklahoma.'
"(But) some of the best moments have been watching and helping the young people who have been involved in our productions. So many of them have gone on to do things in national tours, regional theater and off-Broadway -- and in a small way, by working with them at RLT, I've had a part in their growth and love of theater."
Arbuthnot agrees that audiences will appreciate "Twelve Angry Men" as more than good drama.
"I hope they take home with them that what makes America great is our beliefs -- and that one person who holds those beliefs high can make all the difference."
