Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Column

Can you handle the truth? 'A Few Good Men' to arrive

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Arts and Entertainment
Published January 4, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Mike Carlson] Jennifer Vilardi will portray Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, who is convinced of the two defendants' innocence. [Mike Carlson] Seth Travaglino, left, as Lt. Daniel Kaffee, rehearses with William Myers, portraying Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep.

The military courtroom drama A Few Good Men is probably best known as the 1992 movie starring Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore and Tom Cruise.

But it started out as a stage play, the first ever written by a 28-year-old Aaron Sorkin, who went on to fame as the writer of the acclaimed TV dramaThe West Wingand, more recently, the movie Charlie Wilson's War.

Stage West Community Playhouse opens its production of the tense drama Thursday for a three-weekend run.

"Because of the strong language and adult content, we're recommending it for those 18 and older, though we're not going to put a restriction on tickets," said director Andrea Gleason.

The play, based on an actual case, is set in the late 1980s in a military courtroom, where two young Marines, Lance Cpl. Dawson (Chris Hubner) and Pfc. Downey (Ben Kirchman), stand accused of murdering a fellow Marine, Pfc. Santiago (Justin Badiukieuicz), while they were all stationed at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in 1986.

The prosecutor, Lt. Jack Ross (Gary McCarragher), is determined that the matter have a full court hearing.

The Guantanamo base commander, the intense Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep (William Myers), is just as determined that it doesn't and wants the Marines to be defended by the young, inexperienced and flip Navy Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Seth Travaglino), who is known to settle cases before they go to trial.

But another defense attorney, Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway (Jennifer Vilardi), is convinced that the two men are innocent and wants to lead the defense team and take the matter to court.

During flashback scenes showing how Santiago's death came about, the audience becomes aware that there is more to this case than appears on the surface.

Others at the base are also aware that something is amiss, most notably Capt. Matthew Markinson (Jim Hansen) and Lt. James Kendrick (Mark Berlinger), who were close to Jessep as the situation unfolded.

As the trial progresses, Kaffee realizes that he has become involved in a trial that could embarrass his superiors and quite possibly jeopardize his own career if he makes the wrong move.

Is there some kind of cover-up?

Were Downey and Dawson given some sort of secret orders about the treatment of Santiago?

If so, why?

And why do military officers become so upset at the mere mention of the words "Code Red"?

Most intriguing, what is Jessep's role in this matter?

The play was written almost two decades ago, but it seems to have almost eerie current significance in light of recent news stories from the Guantanamo detention facility.

If you go

'A Few Good Men'

Where: Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.

When: Thursday through Jan. 13; Jan. 18-20 and Jan. 25-27. Shows are at 8 p.m., except Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $18, reserved seating. Free admittance for all active-duty members of the military in uniform. Box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and an hour before each show. Strong language; not recommended for young patrons. Call (352) 683-5113.

[Last modified January 3, 2008, 20:57:35]