“12 Angry Jurors” at Amelia Earhart Playhouse in Wiesbaden, Germany (Payton Burrell)

If you have ever received a jury summons, you know the mixed emotions you feel when you realize that you should be proud to undertake this civic duty ensuring a fair trial, but you also know it can be time-consuming and emotionally draining.

Being in Europe, we don’t have the opportunity to sit on a jury, but you can still enjoy the experience, sans the dread, at the Amelia Earhart Playhouse’s production of “12 Angry Jurors” in Wiesbaden. I highly recommend you do.

Director, Payton Burrell brings this classic to life and even includes a very poignant “Note from the Director” in the online playbill that gave me pause to reflect on my own ability to listen without judgment. His opening remarks were creative and made me feel like the audience was part of the jury pool.

When entering the theater, the audience is immediately immersed in the production and handed a sealed envelope with the words “Jury Summons” emblazoned across the front. Everyone is instructed to open our jury summons. As we tear open our envelopes, those selected shuffle into the unseen courtroom behind the stage. Some grumble about their misfortune, some portray resigned purpose and one shows pride in his selection.

“12 Angry Jurors” at Amelia Earhart Playhouse in Wiesbaden, Germany (Payton Burrell)

The audience listens to the judge give the jury instructions as a saxophone creates a mood of reverence. Then they enter the deliberation room to begin the process of deliberating a verdict to the judge.

We are given a glimpse into the character of each jurist. First, the elderly Juror 9 (Annie Murphy) slowly ambles around on the stage like a grandma with no apparent desire to do anything on time. The Foreman of the Jury (Terry Martin) expresses his frustration as he tries to keep everyone on task. In the meantime, a hardworking, younger man, Juror 6 (Wyatt Evans) ferociously protects the elderly juror, and the Guard (Elizabeth Stoufer) is bored to tears and only wants to get through the week.

On the surface, the play is about 12 ordinary citizens trying to determine the fate of a young man accused of murdering his father. It seems simple, but we quickly realize that each person on the jury brings their own complex personality and experiences to this jury table. When you mix them all, you get a recipe for intense interaction and a lot of different viewpoints being stubbornly held (beyond reason at some points).

“12 Angry Jurors” at Amelia Earhart Playhouse in Wiesbaden, Germany (Payton Burrell)

Despite being a bit of a comedian, Juror 7 (Darin Howell) is not happy to be on the jury and certainly makes sure everyone knows it. As a corporate executive, Juror 12 (Brittany Denise) sees her civic duty as a waste of time and money. At the same time, Juror 5 (Kari Graff) appears young and naïve, but it is powerful to see her find her voice as the performance progresses.

The set helps establish the scene for a dark and dreary day of deliberations. It includes a window with a realistic city view which lights up with lightning and rain pours on the window. The set looks like a typical American government building, from the nondescript furnishings to the ever-present water cooler and half-broken air conditioner laboring away in the corner.

As the audience settles into what we think is going to be an easy single vote to sway, we quickly learn otherwise. Juror 8 (Destiny Doppler) holds things up as the lone protest vote and true colors start to show.  Juror 3 (Julie Boit Hodeen) starts to dominate the room with her forceful and opinionated personality. Her performance is riveting as she angrily explodes at other jurists and slowly shares her own secrets. In contrast, Juror 4 (Emily Stoufer) is only interested in the facts of the case and does not allow for added emotion while Juror 2 ( Emmaleigh Dobratz) continues to change her vote.

“12 Angry Jurors” at Amelia Earhart Playhouse in Wiesbaden, Germany (Payton Burrell)

The interaction between jurors moves the plot through a rollercoaster of continual calls for votes. Juror 11 (Grant Pinkston) excels as the jury’s only foreigner. When he corrects Juror 7’s bad grammar it brings the house down with peals of laughter. Eventually, things digress beyond the trial at hand. Juror 4 is asked “Don’t you sweat?” She matter-of-factly replies, “No, I don’t” as though sweating is beneath her.  

Tensions get high and courtesy quickly breaks down, with both a comedic and thought-provoking result. When racist Juror 10 (Britannie “Bee” Parker) sends a blistering attack on the others it is so believable that it sends a shockwave through the audience.

I felt the frustration of the characters on stage, but also found myself rooting for the truth and considering the implications of a guilty verdict upon a young man who clearly had an awful childhood with the man he is accused of murdering. As I sat through the deliberations, I questioned whether I would be able to be unbiased and whether I would give so much thought to another human being’s future.