Twelve Angry Men at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

Milton Keynes Theatre is situated in central Milton Keynes with great surrounding parking, so you shouldn’t struggle, even if you arrive a little last minute.  Bag checks are now compulsory but once that and your tickets are checked you are swiftly into the theatre.  The bar staff are friendly, and the actual staff in the theatre are usually very knowledgeable and just have to look at your seat number to know where they should guide you.

I volunteered to review Twelve Angry Men a Bill Kenwright production for a variety of reasons. In equal measure the fact it’s Bill Kenwright always piques my interest, and I had never heard of it.  This is always a good reason to review a show.  I think no prior knowledge, not having read a book or maybe have seen a film, means you go to see a production with fresh eyes.  No expectations, no story in your mind to guide you, and even to the point I rarely research the actors in the production.  Does it really matter what they last starred in or how many tv shoes they have been in.  What matters is what’s on stage before you.

Musical theatre is normally my thing, but I did grasp prior to attending this was not what to expect this evening.  Twelve Angry Men is a story set around a Jury deliberating the outcome of a trial.  Written by Reginald Rose, born in Manhattan in 1920, broke into film and television writing then wrote the screenplay based on his own jury service for the trial of a man (he was 16 years old) who was accused of murder.

The stage is set entirely on the jury deliberation room.  The 12 jurors, made up of a variety of well known TV and stage stars play the foreman and the jurors.  Although the scenery is realistic, the chairs table and general ambiance of the staging leads to you believing this could be where jurors go and deliberate after being sent out by the Judge having listened to the ins and outs of the trial.  The bones of the trial and hashed out by the jurors. I won’t spoil the story, but it is quite intense the way it unravels, and how often the dynamics in the room play out.  Unfortunately for me, the awful American accents distract from the acting, I just couldn’t get past it, and too a degree it spoilt the show for me. My other half however was engrossed from start to finish.  We both noticed the table changed position multiple times, but the absolute sleight of hand way it happened, meant I never once witnessed it happening.

If tense one room drama is your thing, then this is the show for you.  There was most certainly some good acting up on stage tonight, it worked, and totally believable to see an all Male jury, so wouldn’t happen in today’s times.  The prejudice, arrogance and self righteousness of some characters was very believable and totally riveting.

Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £22.50 plus transaction fee of £3.95
Twelve Angry Men is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Monday 12 February to Saturday 17 February for more information or to book tickets visit atgtickets.com
Or call the box office on 0844 871 7627

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/twelve-angry-men/milton-keynes-theatre/
Milton Keynes Theatre 509 Marlborough Gate Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ