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• A Few Good Men
• By Aaron Sorkin
• Directed by Zina T. Bleck
• Produced by Zemfira Stage
• Reviewed by Steven McKnight

A Few Good Men is one of the more successful contemporary courtroom dramas and Zemfira Stage’s production fully realizes the dramatic potential of the script.

A 1989 hit on Broadway, it went on to become  a 1992 film featuring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson.  It revolves around a disciplinary hazing of Private First Class Santiago, an underperforming Marine at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  When the incident results in Santiago’s death, two enlisted Marines are charged with murder and a high-level cover-up is undertaken to protect the officers who may have sanctioned the action. 

In hopes of settling the matter quietly without a trial, the case is assigned to Lieutenant Junior Grade Daniel Kaffee, an inexperienced young prosecutor with a history of plea bargaining cases.  A Navy JAG investigator, Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway, wedges her way onto the defense team because she is convinced that that the two Marines are being railroaded.  She is offended by what she believes is Kaffee’s lackadaisical approach to the case while Kaffee resents Galloway’s intrusion into the matter.  

The two lead actors take a while to settle into their roles.  John G. McCracken, Jr., an appealing and expressive actor, faces a challenge in giving variety to the emotions underlying Kaffee’s glib and cocky exterior.  Similarly, Jessica Billones plays Galloway’s officious dedication to duty a little too broadly.  Both actors become much more convincing after they meet their clients and start settling into the serious work of saving two young men from lengthy prison terms.

The story is told in intermittent flashbacks as the defense attorneys investigate the case, and travel to Cuba to meet the officers involved.  Their main adversary is Lieutenant Colonel Jessup (Tom Pentecost), a famous Marine officer on the rise who is headed to the National Security Council.  Jessup’s primary henchman is Lieutenant Kendrick {Claude Stark), a fanatical believer in the code of “Unit, Corps, God, Country.”  These men view Santiago’s death as just an unfortunate casualty in a cold conflict in which they protect both the wall in Cuba and the nation’s freedoms.

The play kicks into high gear in Act Two when the trial commences.  Kaffee, who admits he was goaded into taking the matter to trial, decides to risk adverse career consequences by forcing Jessup to testify.  His cross-examination of Jessup, involving themes of the greater good and what it means to live life by a code of honor, is the riveting climax of the play.

Zemfira Stage has assembled a talented set of actors for this large cast drama.  Pentecost is fascinating as the intimidating Jessup, alternately courtly and cruel, with an eddy of emotion always swirling beneath the surface.  Stark is a charismatic zealot as Lt. Kendrick.  Greg Gallagher and Alex Avila are convincing as the two enlisted Marines who don’t realize until the very end why their actions were wrong.  Ardith Collins is another standout as the quietly authoritative military trial judge.

The Lyceum space is a very intimate setting that makes the courtroom confrontation even more powerful.  The quality of the production is aided by authentic military uniforms and a persuasive sound design that facilitates transitions and sets moods with sounds of Marines marching, military transportation, and patriotic music. 

The production occasionally suffers from pacing problems.  Overall, though, director Zina T. Bleck elicits some strong performances from the cast.  Zemfira Stage’s production of A Few Good Men delivers both a memorable courtroom confrontation and a thought-provoking exploration of issues relevant to the responsibilities of the military. 

(Warning:  contains salty language)

• Running Time:  2:45 (one intermission).
• Where: The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA.
• When: Through May 31 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performance).
• Tickets: $15. $10 for students.
• Info: For reservations call (703) 318-0619 or visit the website.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am and is filed under Our Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.