Too Many Angry Men

I started reading 12 Angry Men before bed on Sunday night. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it - unfortunately I tend to judge books by the cover and this one was NOT the most exciting! After reading about all the characters, settings, and props - I wondered how I would keep everything (and everyone) straight. I began reading Act I, skeptical of how interesting and difficult the play may be. I quickly realized that some characters were more important than others. For instance, Juror 8 is a pretty central character - able to influence those around him and stand up for himself. I also thought the topic of discussion and the thought processes of some of the characters was interesting. Who do you think are the important characters in the play? What makes these characters important?