Theater Review: ‘A Few Good Men’

I used to try to convince my mom to come see serious movies or dramas with me, but she would decline because she wanted the laughter and happy endings that usually came in comedies or musicals. No matter how I argued, I usually went to dramas by myself. Now that I’m older, I understand the escape she sought, but I still argue that a drama like A Few Good Men is important because of the questions it raises about duty, honor and loyalty. The Theatre Palisades production opened last Friday at Pierson Playhouse, and runs through July 15. Two marines are charged with the death of a comrade. It appears to be a open- and shut-case, but Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway (Heidi Brook Myers) feels that the pair are innocent and asks to defend them. Because of her dismal track record in court (six cases, six losses), a recent Harvard Law School graduate, Lieutenant j.g. Daniel A. Kaffee (Rico Simonini), who is known for settling cases, is assigned. Galloway manages to become the lawyer of record for one of the men and must work with Kaffee. There is a great deal of friction between the two that is eventually overcome as they challenge each other to reach the truth. Surprisingly, there are moments of levity in the play, unlike a Eugene O’Neill drama in which the unrelenting drama doesn’t give you that release. Since the U.S. has soldiers at war in Iraq, the issues of duty, dependency, patriotism and the rule of law that playwright Aaron Sorkin raises are age-old questions that can be re-examined in a current context. This is a play that will always retain its relevance. Near the conclusion of the play, Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Jessep (W.A. Steele) says, ‘We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it!’ A Few Good Men was originally presented at the Heritage Repertory Theatre at the University of Virginia. It moved to the Music Box Theatre in New York in November 1989 and in 1992 was made into a successful film starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicolson. The Theatre Palisades production is uneven. Two standouts are Heidi Brook Myers and W.A. Steele because they understand the correct tone, movement and posture needed for the military. Steele’s voice is a marvel, his acting sparse and we believe who he is and why he has acted the way he has. Myers is also a no-nonsense kind of actress who lights up the stage. She plays a character who would sacrifice friends because it is more important to have the truth than worry about someone’s feelings, and her interpretation is perfect. Unfortunately, that role has been double-cast, as has Dawson and Downey (the two men suspected of murder). Although I didn’t see the other actress (Isabella di Donato), I would argue that it would be hard to top Myers. I would also prefer to keep David Shackelford, who plays Dawson. There’s no reason to replace him. Another man I believed thoroughly in the role of Kendrick was Jerel Taylor. I was happy every time he came on stage, because I knew it would be interesting. The joy of theater for a reviewer is that no two nights will be exactly alike, for good or bad, and I believe that some of the more irritating flaws of this production can be fixed by this weekend. The music at times was too loud to hear the actors–or maybe the actors weren’t loud enough, because I couldn’t hear some of the dialogue. Given the size of the stage, that is inexcusable. One of the actors needs to re-evaluate ways of showing anger–constantly shouting is one choice, but perhaps a more subtle hushed tone with the anger simmering out of the actor’s skin could also be an alternative. The play takes place in various locations in Washington, D.C., including a courtroom, a jail cell, an apartment and offices on the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which left the set designer Lewis Stout with a real challenge. He came through brilliantly. The sentry tower in the rear center of the stage helped set a military zone and the minimalist ways of adding a chair or a few props was an inventive way to use the small space. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., through July 15. Tickets for Friday and Sunday are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Tickets for Saturday are $18/$16. Call (310) 454-1970 or go to www.theatrepalisades.org.