The cast of Pleasant Valley High School Drama Club’s production of “Twelve Angry Jurors” is set to debate the case before the audience this weekend.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday in the high school auditorium.

“Twelve Angry Jurors” is based on the 1957 American courtroom drama film, “Twelve Angry Men,” which tells the story of 12 jurors deciding the fate of a 19-year-old man charged with murdering his father.

Set in a jury room, this classic piece of American literature explores techniques of consensus building in a jury that is struggling to obtain a unanimous vote.

The play, which is an adaptation of the original one and a second play titled “Twelve Angry Women,” mixes both male and female characters in the drama, said teacher Dan Mulligan.

Mulligan and his wife, Marcie, direct the cast of 13 student actors with production assistance by Donna Morris.

“Twelve Angry Jurors” explores the power one person has to elicit change.

Ryan Morris plays the part of Juror 8, a mild-tempered man who stands alone as the only not guilty vote. Molly O’Brien as Juror 3 and Jillian Balbuena as Juror 4 create the strongest dissent toward him.

As Juror 1 and the jury foreman, Jose Trinidad attempts to maintain order while Ashley Alexis (Juror 7), James Mauro (Juror 10), Austyn Bunker (Juror 12) increase the outrage toward Juror 8 and his reluctance to back down from his position.

Madeline Zipp as Juror 6, Aidan Sawyer (Juror 11), Sarah Larregui (Juror 5), Owen Gordon (Juror 2), and Mira Giunta (Juror 9) quietly disagree with Juror 8, but eventually are won over by his reasoning. Angela George plays the part of the courtroom guard.

Morris, who is the lone not guilty vote, said, “I believe that my character really just wants to see justice. He’s not convinced that he’s not guilty. He’s just not sure whether he is or he isn’t, and he wants to talk about it more, instead of going straight to guilty. He wants to ensure that justice is being served correctly.”

O’Brien thinks part of the reason that her character, Juror 3, is so reticent that the young man did commit the crime is because she sees her estranged son in him.

“Maybe she sort of connects this case to the one about her son and has sort of a resentment toward her child, and therefore has a resentment toward the kid on trial,” she said.

Trinidad, whose character is the jury foreman, said, “Injustice does happen in this world and that as people, all that we can do is hear people out and hear different perspectives.”

Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased at the door.

Pleasant Valley School District follows all state guidelines for COVID-19 safety precautions, so masks are required inside the building.