Soon after being proclaimed a cinematic masterpiece in 1957, Reginald Rose knew he had created a classic in Twelve Angry Men. Since then, he saw himself and many other directors adapting the teleplay onto stage, infusing the narrative with their creative improvisations. Director Rakesh Palisetty, who has most recently attempted to present the same story within a theatrical framework at Akshara Theatre, says his fascination with the story made him tackle the tale his own way. “The concept of 12 seemingly ordinary men, each as it turns out with major shortcomings and character defects, psychological problems, emotional problems etc., locked up in a small room, deciding on a man’s life or death, was an idea I found interesting,” says Palisetty, who then challenged himself to present the idea on stage.
Understanding the context and time in which the play has been set is a prerequisite to appreciating the role play of each character. There was even a time when the director contemplated Indianising the story, but then he decided to stick to the original script, because that, he thought, would justify the plot the best. “The play is about 12 men serving on a jury, who after hearing the final arguments have to decide on the life of a teenager who is being prosecuted for the murder of his father. Locked in a room, their personalities start emerging. There are issues of personal grievance, of inability to fit into society, of arrogance and self-importance, of low self-esteem, of aggression, but ultimately idealism, integrity, and in this one instance, that of justice triumphs,” says Palisetty.
Date and Time
January 16, 17 at 7 pm; January 18 at 6 pm and January 24 at 7 pm
Venue 11-B, Baba Kharak Singh Marg