Pennsbury Drama Program Gets Angry This Weekend

In her third year as a member of the Pennsbury High School drama program, junior Julia Sismour usually takes the stage as a sweet, girl-next-door-type character. As the roles in the school's fall production of 12 Angry Jurors went up for grabs, she jumped at the chance to play a character with a bit more of a mean streak.

"This is really my first time playing the antagonist," said Sismour as she prepared for dress rehearsal as Juror Number 3. "I had to put a different kind of energy into this crazy character."

The show is an adaptation of the classic teleplay, 12 Angry Men, written by Reginald Rose in 1954 and brought to the silver screen in 1957. The three-act play has only one setting, a jury deliberation room in Chicago.

Twelve jurors have just entered that room after hearing the closing arguments of a murder case, and all but one are certain of the defendant's guilt. It's up to Juror Number 8 to attempt to sway the others that they could be wrong.

At the surface, the single setting would seem ideal for a high school production. Less moving parts and lavish sets means there is more time to focus on the performances. However, Director Mary Kay Everett has found some disadvantages come with the powerful script.

"It's hard to keep the action moving," said Everett. "We want to keep it from looking like the last supper, with everybody just sitting around the table talking."

To remedy the issue, Everett has added a bathroom door to keep background characters moving around and looked at adding dynamic actions to the silent script, encouraging more natural movement around the set.

Pennsbury High School's Drama Program will present Twelve Angry Jurors Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Orange Auditorium at Pennsbury High School West, 608 South Olds Boulevard, Fairless Hills. Tickets are $7.00 and will be available for purchase at the door prior to each performance.

The show kicks off a typically busy season for the drama program. A number of students will participate in the PA State Thespian Conference at Central York High School in York on Dec. 5 through Dec. 7.

Pennwood Middle School will present a production of The Music Man on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The big, spring musical this year will be Barnum, staging at Pennsbury High School East Feb. 28 and March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Match 2 at 2 p.m.