Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The room is full of tension and 12 arguing women. A knife is wielding, yelling ensues and tempers flair.
Students in Glenda VanReenan’s theatre class at Pocahontas County High School are rehearsing lines for its production of “12 Angry Women,” an adaptation of the famous teleplay “12 Angry Men” penned by Reginald Rose. The play was brought to the silver screen in 1957, starring Henry Fonda.
“We have more women and we had to find a play with all these women roles,” VanReenan said.
While VanReenan has offered theater classes for the past 19 years, this is only the second year she has had an advanced class. The class may be small – 16 students – but they make do with what they have.
“We don’t have a stage crew or anything because we’re just too small this time,” she said. “Everybody has to take care of their own business.”
Along with acting, the students also worked on set design, including a window overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge which is integral to the story.
“Everybody kind of jumped in on it but the bridge and the window were painted by Rebekah Anderson and Miranda McMillion,” VanReenan said.
VanReenan said she is looking forward to the show because the students always surprise her with their performances.
“The night of the performance, I will see things that I have never ever seen them do,” she said. “It always happens because the adrenaline starts flowing and they’ll start hamming it up – but not too much. I’ve seen it time after time, after time, after time.”
The students will perform the show for the community Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the PCHS auditorium. Admission for adults is $4 and $3 for students.
Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com
