TEHRAN- A loose adaptation of American screenwriter and playwright Reginald Rose’s “Twelve Angry Men” is currently on stage at Shahrzad Theater Complex in Tehran.

Director Mohammadreza Pourhakimi has renamed the play “Infinity” to perform it in Iran. 

Avishan Sedqi, Raha Jafari, Yasaman Rastegar, Shadi Aqai and Tahura Moqaddasi are the main members of the cxast for the play, which will remain on stage until September 26. 

“Twelve Angry Men” is a powerful play by Reginald Rose, adapted from his original 1954 teleplay created for the CBS Studio One anthology series. The work first took the stage in San Francisco in 1955, and it made its Broadway debut nearly 50 years later, in 2004, through the Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theatre, running for an impressive 328 performances.

The play centers around a jury tasked with deliberating the fate of a young man accused of murdering his father. Set immediately after the closing arguments, the story unfolds in the jury room as the jurors begin their discussions. In accordance with American judicial standards, a unanimous decision is required for a verdict of ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty.’ The stakes are high, with a guilty verdict leading to a mandatory death sentence. 

The initial vote shows a strong consensus for a ‘guilty’ verdict, with only one juror expressing uncertainty. Throughout the deliberations, this lone dissenter raises critical questions, introducing reasonable doubt about the evidence presented during the trial. As the discussions progress, the jurors reveal their own backgrounds and biases, influencing their views on the case. Interactions expose elements of racism, personal conflicts, and various prejudices against the defendant. The dissenter's analytical approach gradually persuades his fellow jurors to reconsider, ultimately leading to a unanimous ‘not guilty’ verdict. Interestingly, the characters are not identified by name but by number, underscoring their roles as representatives of broader societal issues.

Multiple productions and adaptations of “Twelve Angry Men” have taken place since its inception. The first adaptation was staged in San Francisco in 1955, followed by performances in Europe, including a notable version by André Obey in Paris in 1958. In 1964, a London rendition featuring actor Leo Genn and directed by Margaret Webster garnered significant attention.

One notable production was directed by Harold Pinter, which premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in 1996. This production featured a talented cast and transferred later to the Comedy Theatre in London due to its success.

“Twelve Angry Men” has become a cornerstone of American theater, renowned for its incisive exploration of justice, prejudice, and the moral obligations of jurors. Its compelling narrative continues to resonate in both theatrical and cinematic contexts, influencing audiences and encouraging thoughtful discourse on the justice system and societal values.

Reginald Rose (1920 – 2002) was an influential American screenwriter known for tackling controversial social and political themes in his work. His realistic storytelling style had a significant impact on the anthology programs of the 1950s.

Born and raised in Manhattan, Rose gained widespread recognition for his courtroom drama “Twelve Angry Men”, which delves into the dynamics of a jury in a murder trial. This acclaimed play was later adapted into a film of the same name, directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1957.

SAB/