‘12 Incompetent Jurors’ is farcical comedy done right

Some farcical works run into a fatal flaw: being too silly or absurd to be relatable. But “12 Incompetent Jurors,” a parody of the courtroom classic “12 Angry Men,” has enough resonance and pathos to more than justify its sold-out run.

The show takes place during a jury deliberation for what should be a simple, open-and-shut case. A woman accused of stealing cats has been caught on video, testified against by witnesses and even admitted to committing the crime. The jury is all but set to make its decision when one member, Juror Eight (Amber Swisher), goes against the otherwise unanimous opinion. From there, it’s a nonstop (well, except for the two short intermissions) romp through a humorous case of mass hysteria.

The jury is a certified rogues’ gallery of zany characters, many of whom don’t have the backbone or wit to keep from being pulled into Juror Eight’s game. Standouts include Holly Kay-Cannon as the whimsical Foreman; Bethlehem Hall as attorney-obsessed, desperate-to-please Juror Seven; Ian Whipp as French-fry-munching, cringe-inducing Juror Nine; and Michael Stokes as a Russian who just wants his nicotine fix, Juror Twelve.

But underlying the insanity is a story of broken dreams and the value of sticking to the facts. Juror Eight’s desperate attempt to have her lawyer moment and argue this one case is palpable, especially for anyone who’s given up on an ambition they couldn’t achieve. Swisher is hilarious up until the climax, when she turns on a dime and admits her faults in a scene that pulls the show back to reality. And the idea of a group of people being so quickly and easily polarized is unfortunately nothing new in this very divisive moment in our nation. Perhaps the best moment of the show is Juror 10’s (James Houska) loud, pointed rant about his fellow jurors’ stupidity. I only wish some people would come away from their social media feeds with the same message as the show.

The simple but effective staging, from the spot-on costumes and drab courthouse side-room backdrop to the intimate, close-up feel of the black box theater, immerses the viewer in all the action. Riverwalk has done a great job with this production, and my only regret is that I can’t recommend anyone get tickets. The community has spoken: “12 Incompetent Jurors” is a hit.