By DAVID VITRANO

News Editor

RESERVE—In the age of “Law and Order” and Court TV, “12 Angry Jurors,” opening Thursday at the St. John Theatre, looks as though it could have been ripped straight from the modern television lineup. The play, however, has been around for over 50 years.

Most came to know of the story, originally titled “12 Angry Men,” through the popular 1957 film of the same name starring Henry Fonda.

In it, 12 jurors deliberate on a case that seems open-and-shut. One juror, juror no. 8, however, refuses to go along with the rest of the jury in their “guilty” vote. The film was notable not so much for what it contained as for what it left out. The jurors are never named, except for two at the end of the film who exchange names when leaving the courtroom, and most of the film takes place in a single room with most of the cast spending much time seated around a table.

The factors that set the film apart work just as effectively on stage, but they also have created some unique problems for director Darryl P. Clement.

According to Clement, it was at first somewhat difficult casting a play with such a long list of nameless characters. He insists, however, that the casting was not random.

“When you read (the script), you get a sense of who the people are. You find out their jobs and ages,” he said.

Having such a large cast presents another problem for a small community theatre such as this one. Since all the cast members have “day jobs,” finding time for all of them to meet can be problematic. On this particular evening, Chris Workmon, who plays juror no. 8, was not at rehearsal because of an emergency situation at his job at Bayou Steel.

The setting provided other hurdle for the director. It is a play in which 12 people enter the stage, do not leave and, for the most part, sit around a table for 90 minutes, he said. Finding motivation for their movements could be a chore, but the ever-able Clement has done an admirable job creating a gripping and exciting dramatic experience.

Of course, having such a quality script didn’t hurt.  The story, which Clement recommended to the board, was “followed almost verbatim,” according to Clement.

References have been updated and the women were added to the cast—thus the change in the title from “men” to “jurors”—but not much else was altered. “We didn’t have to change much because it works,” Clement added.

Clement’s cast also helped ease the director’s production hassles. All but three have had prior stage experience, and many will be quite familiar to patrons of the theatre. Donna Conran, who plays the foreman, has starred in a number of productions since 1992. Mike Brooks directed the theatre’s last major production “Always…Patsy Cline.”  Cast members Richard Stricks annd Kay Reeves have also put in their fair share of time on the Reserve stage. The cast even includes Tim Daley, who is the drama teacher at East St. John High School.

It takes such a talented cast to pull off a production such as “12 Angry Jurors” where so much weight is placed on the words of the characters. The action starts after the  case is heard, so the audience must discern from the dialogue what has come before.

“As they deliberate, the facts come out,” said Clement. “You find out not only about the case but also about the people themselves.”

Clement’s last production on this stage was last summer’s “Jekyll and Hyde,” and this production stands in stark contrast to the showy sets and musical numbers of that piece.

Still Clement took on the challenge because he felt the script was just that worthy.

“This speaks volumes about our judicial system,” he said.

He then broke it down to a more fundamental level. “All theater is basically the same,” he said. “It’s all about conflict and the human condition.”

“12 Angry Jurors” opens tomorrow and plays Feb. 12 through 14 at 7:30 p.m. and on Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. St. John Theatre is located at 115 West 4th St. in Reserve. Call 985-536-6630 or visit their Web site at www.stjohntheatre.com for more information.