Seeking Justice : Juror holdout triggers confrontations in ‘Twelve Angry Men.’

More than 40 years after it was first seen, Reginald Rose’s courtroom drama “Twelve Angry Men” stands as an intense story that could have taken place yesterday, and it well deserves its revival by Thousand Oaks-based Gothic Productions.

The play was first seen as a 1954 episode of the TV anthology “Studio One,” and subsequently was adapted for film, then for the stage, by Sherman L. Sergel.

Director Michael Jordan has cast three women as members of the jury. Save the few altered gender-specific references, the play remains the same as always: A young man has been accused of the murder of his father, and 11 jurors vote for a “guilty” sentence. One holds out, claiming reasonable doubt. Dramatic confrontations ensue.

Some actors have more time to emote than others, including Jean Waller as the holdout, and Kelly Vincent and Palmer Scott as a couple of hotheads. Uniformly strong acting is hampered by some occasionally wooden dialogue. But don’t let that, or the slightly contrived ending, keep you away. The performing space puts the audience so close to the cast that it’s just like being part of the jury.

* “Twelve Angry Men” at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m., through April 27. $8-$10. Call 381-2747.

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Girls Just Want to Have Fun: Justice plays a part in the Conejo Players’ current show. Just down the street from “Twelve Angry Men,” they’re performing the 1978 musical, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Based on real people and events, the show was put together by four Texans, including Larry L. King, who wrote the Playboy magazine article on which it is based, songwriter Carol Hall, and co-director Tommy Tune.

Five years earlier, a consumer-issues reporter for a Houston TV station brought statewide attention to the Chicken Ranch, a nearby brothel that had been in operation for more than a century without arousing much of a stir. In fact, it appears that half of Texas either worked at or patronized the place at one time or another.

A huge cast, featuring a number of right purty gals, tells the tale in song and dance. Leads include Peggy Walsh as Miss Mona, the madam; Harrison Ray as the town sheriff and her sometime lover; an actress who calls herself simply “She” as Mona’s lieutenant; Karlan Judd as “Watchdog” Melvin P. Thorpe; Amy Sullivan as a waitress who gets one of the show’s big ballads; and Kim Coger and Kate Strote as a couple of new-to-the-place working girls.

Zach Spencer directs and acts as co-musical director with Charles Padilla; Patty Foy, Ann Oppenheim and Maggie White has provided the dance routines; and there’s a nice little band in the pit.

After seeing all the fun at the Chicken Ranch, many in the audience might just want to move to Texas and set up a business for themselves.

* “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at Conejo Players Theatre, 31 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Thur.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m., through May 10. $8-$12. Call 495-3715.

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Casting Call: Ojai Civic Light Opera will hold auditions Saturday for “The Music Man,” which will play weekends from June 27-July 11. Call 646-1899.

The Elite Theatre Company will audition for the thriller “Wait Until Dark” from Monday through Wednesday at Petit Playhouse, 730 South B St., Oxnard. The play will run weekends from June 6-July 12. Call 483-5118.

Actors Repertory Company of Simi will hold auditions Wednesday and April 24 and 27 for its Young Artists production of “Twelfth Night.” Roles are open for actors, ages 15-21. Director Toni Frisk is also looking for strong singers, ages 13-21, for an a cappella chorus in the production. Performances are weekends in July and August in Simi Valley and Santa Paula. Call 529-3611.