An open and shut case - or is it? '12 Angry Men', a play presented by Impact Mentoring Academy this weekend at Somersfield Academy, follows the deliberations of a jury in a murder trial with the penalty for a guilty verdict death by electric chair.

Director Trace White explained that it was an ideal play for his students as "it provided an opportunity to explore anger in men because we work with young men. The play explores how they manage or don't manage their anger."

The play begins after the closing arguments have been presented in a case in which a young man is accused of murdering his father. The 12 jurors must provide a unanimous verdict of guilty or not guilty; failure to do so will result in a hung jury.

Not only is the defendant on trial; so is the system of trial by a jury of one's peers with its professed sense of infallibility, fairness and lack of bias.

George Cook, who plays Juror Number Seven, explained that the play was, "Like life itself. The jurors are judging each other, prosecuting each other without actually knowing each other."

For George, the play provided, "a great opportunity to express myself. It offered different ways to channel different emotions; acting is a great way to do this. For the audience, the play offers an opportunity to see a group of young men trying to represent their generation who haven't fallen through the cracks."

Though the play explores serious themes, there are scattered throughout humorous moments, "sly little remarks" that generate laughter.

12 Angry Men runs on April 23 and 24 at Somersfield Academy at 7.15 p.m. Tickets, $35 for adults, $15 for students, are available at the door. E-mail impactmentoring@live.com for more information.