It may have been written almost 70 years ago, but Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men is still a poignant reminder that the justice system is far from perfect. Even with improved techniques in forensic DNA and analysis, if an innocent person ended up standing in the dock (such as, for example, the recently-in-the-news Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly convicted of rape and spent 17 years in prison), they would undoubtedly be hoping that at least one of their jurors would be like the man played by Patrick Duffy in this latest touring adaptation of Rose’s absorbing drama.

Hollywood star Duffy - best known as Bobby Ewing in Dallas (and by television afficionados/anoraks as The Man From Atlantis) is the one dissenting juror - the character famously portrayed by Henry Fonda in the memorable film version. Over a period of several hours, the juror manages to persuade his fellow 11 ‘good men and true’ (at the time the play was written, women weren’t allowed to serve on federal juries in New York) that maybe, just maybe, there is a ‘reasonable doubt’ about the defendant’s alleged guilt.

The play is set on a hot and sticky summer’s day. Being cooped up in a small room, deliberating the future of a stranger with 11 other strangers, is nobody’s idea of a good time. The 11 are adamant that the defendant is guilty of murder. But Duffy’s juror is a persuasive man; as the summer sun continues to burn, so the temperature in the jury room slowly rises...

There are amazing and passionate performances all round in this intense two-hour drama. The excellent Duffy is supported by an outstanding cast, including Tristan Gemmill, Michael Greco, Ben Nealon, Gary Webster and Gray O’Brien, who between them bring a wealth of talent and experience to the stage.

Twelve Angry Men highlights the potential we all have to bring our existing biases to the judicial system, and the consequences that this can have. A brilliant piece of writing, brilliantly performed by an equally brilliant cast, this is one show about which the jury most definitely is not out. 

5 stars

Twelve Angry Men was reviewed by Sue Hull on Monday 30 October at Birmingham’s The Alexandra, where it shows until Saturday (4 November).