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Ilona Hanne reviews Cue Theatre’s production of 12 Angry Jurors, written by Reginald Rose and directed by Warren Bates. Playing now through to November 25..
Undeniably the stars of this show, that was written in 2003, are the puppets. They defuse the tension and give room to the cast to perform songs that might make a human performer and their year 2021 audience recoil in horror. While the whole cast and musical team have put together a near-flawless production, there are a few who really stand out. Lead actress Kelsey McEwan shines brightest. Her performance as Kate Monster, the love interest of the male lead Princeton (Sonny Deacle), is a masterclass. How she also manages to play a second puppet (whose name is best left unwritten) I do not know.
The cast auditioned this time last year, in the hopes it would be going ahead in August 2020, but Covid-19 put an end to that. Two cast members and a director were unable to do the rescheduled 2021 show, so the roles were filled, and the group began rehearsing in January. “It s been pretty exciting. I’ve been on a high since January, actor Kent Robinson said. “Having everyone using their puppets and singing together, I ve been so excited.
GLENN JEFFREY/Stuff
Sprott, left, and Kent Robinson both use puppets throughout the show. There are 11 puppet characters, and three human characters, but Quicke was the only one who had experience with puppets prior to rehearsals beginning.