By Carrie Harris

Source - The River Current News - www.rivercurrentnews.com - October 23, 2008 

At a time when race and gender are making headlines, “Twelve Angry Men and Women” strikes a chord. Cascade Community Theater is digging into the depths and disgusting prejudices of Americans with their enactment of the 1957 movie.

I was lucky enough to see Act II of “Twelve Angry Men and Women” last night (Thursday, Oct. 16). The dress rehearsal was amazing and left me eager to see the play in its entirety. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie (“Twelve Angry Men,” 1957) the entire show takes place in a room of 12 sequestered jurors. They are trying to decide the fate of a young man who is on trial for murder. Each character brings their baggage to the table and the personalities of the jurors are brought out by the emotion of the case. Prejudices are obvious.

The original movie portrayed a German-born American citizen in the jury of ALL white men. Stuart Lisk,

director, has opened up the spectrum to include women and a Middle Eastern man, an appropriate change that represents America today. When I had a chance to speak with the actors they were excited for the production. Everyone one of them agreed that Lisk was “the world’s best director” and they felt he pinned each performer with the character they play to a T.

The actors also agreed that one of the hardest aspects of this play is not being able to go backstage and decompress. You can’t go back and check your lines or rest. You’re on stage and in character the

entire time.

“Some may have a line on page seven and then not again until page 17”, stated Mr. Lisk, but they must remain in character the whole time. It was evident to me that they did just that. Angry juror #10 – played by Jeff Zuber – was fuming throughout the production. Even as he sat away from the group, you

could see the hatred in his face.

Juror #7 wants out of there to get to a Yankees game and you see it throughout the show, whether he’s

fanning himself with his tickets or checking the time on his watch. Juror #7, played by David Galvin, joked, “It’s

difficult to stay in character but it’s more difficult to pretend I’m a Yankee’s fan.”

Cascade Community Theater has out done itself and they have themselves to thank. The players not only act, but they are also the set builders, prop finders and haulers. Everyone does everything but they have a lot of fun doing it.

Elise Leonti mentioned, “What I really like about this group is the commitment each person gives and that we are all comrades. It’s fun.”

Most of the players are from the Duvall/Carnation area and many have been working with the theater since its inception. They continue to grow from the support of the community and they are hoping someday to have a theater of their own.

Take some time this weekend to enjoy a great live performance right here in Duvall. “Twelve Angry Men

and Women” is showing Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24-25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m. at Cedarcrest High School. For more information, visit their Web site at www.cascadecommunitytheatre.org.

Photos By Carol Ladwig