Big Weekend For HFCS Drama

The Hoosick Falls Central School’s Drama Club will be presenting its fall production next weekend, and, just like in previous years, you get two shows for the price of one.  And also like in past years…admission is free.
The first show is the outrageously funny comedy S.P.A.R.   Written by Stephen Gregg (who also wrote 2009’s short comedy “This Is A Test”), the show takes a hilarious look at the life of the main character Renata. The Drama Club has made it a point to keep the plot secret, but the outrageous characters and incredible plot twists will keep the audience thinking hard (and laughing harder) all the way to the end.
The second show of the night is the tense courtroom drama Twelve Angry Jurors. The show, written by Reginald Rose, takes place completely in a room where a jury is deliberating over the fate of a man accused of murder. The original TV show won Rose an Emmy, and the subsequent movie that followed a few years later earned three Oscar nominations.  The exceptional story and character development make this one of the top choices for stage productions in schools and theatres alike. Originally titled Twelve Angry Men, the title is changed when some of the jurors’ roles are played by women.
The story of Twelve Angry Jurors was inspired by Rose’s own experience on a jury in a manslaughter case. The Internet Movie Database quotes Rose’s memories of the experience. “It was such an impressive, solemn setting in a great big wood-paneled courtroom, with a silver-haired judge, it knocked me out. I was overwhelmed. I was on a jury for a manslaughter case, and we got into this terrific, furious, eight hour argument in the jury room. I was writing one hour dramas, and I thought, ‘Wow, what a setting for a drama.’”
The shows will be performed on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at 7 pm and Sunday, November 20, at 2 pm.  Thanks to the support of Hoosick Falls Central School, the Drama Club is once again pleased to offer free admission. There will be an intermission, where food and beverages will be available for purchase in the high school cafeteria.
A note to parents: There is no foul language in any of these shows, and audiences of all ages are welcome. For the very young children, use your best judgment when deciding if you should bring them along – there are some off-color jokes in S.P.A.R. and some tension filled moments in Jurors as the jury discuss details of a murder case.  Regardless, the evening promises to bring lots of laughs and many thought provoking moments that can foster excellent discussion about people, personalities and America’s jury system.