SHARE:  

Join Our Email List

JTP's Production of A Few Good Men Is Briskly Paced,
Frequently Laugh-Out-Loud Funny, and Provocative

In the late 1970s, a now familiar slogan began to air frequently on TV: "The Marines are looking for a few good men."

A few decades ago, a friend of mine directed a community-theater production of Aaron Sorkin's 1989 courtroom drama, A Few Good Men. As assistant to the director and assistant stage manager, I attended every rehearsal and every performance.

Since then, I have seen the 1992 movie on TV more than a few times. So, I had become intimately familiar with the characters and the plot. In fact, I still remember the first two verses of a silly song that I had written for our cast party:

Kaffee was a lawyer doing time in the navy,
Awaiting his ride on the train of gravy.
He was doing all right -- little work, lotsa play,
Until he met up with Commander Galloway.
"It seems down at "Gitmo" there'd been a "code red" --
Dawson and Downey shaving Santiago's head.
They were trying to "train" him to do right and be good;
Until they noticed the trickle of blood."

With all of that in mind, I believe I am qualified to declare: The Justice Theatre Project's current production of A Few Good Men is nothing short of outstanding! It's briskly paced, frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and deeply probing into some interesting and vital concepts. In addition, this production is laced with a plethora of nice touches that make it all the more delectable.

It's nice to see "old friends" -- nice to become reacquainted. The experience (and the process) is even nicer when these old friends appear somewhat different in ways that are quite pleasing and delightful. And that's what director Adam Twiss, along with a dynamite cast and creative team, has served up -- an encounter with several of my "old friends."

Although A Few Good Men can be labeled as both a "David-and-Goliath story" and a "coming-of-age story," it is very much a story about providing protection and justice for individuals who would otherwise be helpless victims. And it tells this story while presenting multiple perspectives on a variety of issues.

Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men stars JTP artistic director Jerry Sipp (center) as Col. Nathan Jessep (photo by Mike Krogh)

The Play:

Meet Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson and PFC Lowden Downey: At the U.S. Marine base in Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, the two young, dedicated Marines, with the best of duty-fueled intentions, have caused the death of a fellow Marine. They are now on trial for murder. Were they following orders? Are they being railroaded? Is there a massive coverup?

Meet Lt. J.G. Daniel Kaffee, Lt. J.G. Sam Weinberg, and Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway: A young, inexperienced lawyer is assigned as Downey and Dawson's defense attorney. A good friend of the lawyer's is assigned as the "second chair" attorney. (Both would be happy to accept any plea agreement that would improve their clients' lot.) A third lawyer, who "smells a rat," forces her way in as a member of the legal team and insists that the young men enter a plea of "Not Guilty."

On our way to the courtroom, we meet the Marine base commander, his executive officer, the platoon leader, and the medical officer -- Col. Nathan Jessep, Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson, Lt. Jonathan Kendrick, and Cmdr. Walter Stone. In the courtroom, we meet the prosecuting attorney and the judge -- Lt. Jack Ross and Capt. Julius Randolph. Along the way, we meet a half-dozen or so other Marines and naval officers.

Gerald Louis Campbell (left) and Jerry Sipp star as Lt. Col. Matthew A. Markinson and Col. Nathan Jessep (photo by Mike Krogh)

The Acting:

This is a wonderful ensemble cast. Every actor is a perfectly shaped piece of the giant jig-saw puzzle that director Adam Twiss has put together. Their timing is impeccable, and every "gag" works beautifully.

For this play to be successful, it is essential that we take an immediate, strong liking to Kaffee, Weinberg, and Galloway. We do.

It's super easy to "make friends" with Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder's Kaffee as he fairly oozes the initial carefree, smart-assed attitude. Ryder then seamlessly transitions the character into a heroic, dedicated courtroom lawyer. Ryder pulls off the witticisms and antics with aplomb and shows Kaffee's apprehension about going into the courtroom battle. And Ryder plays the character's low points every bit as well as he plays the high ones.

It is equally easy to like William Kalland's Weinberg. Kalland's excellent sense of timing, his facial expressions, and his body language point up and punctuate every one of his lines.

Amelia Lumpkin creates a perfect Galloway -- the compassion, the dedication, and the bulldog determination are evident throughout. The verbal joustings and head-to-head confrontations between her and Ryder's Kaffee are well-worth the price of admission. Side Note: very few actors can "roll their eyes" as well as Lumpkin's Galloway does at key moments.

Then there's JTP artistic director Jerry Sipp's Jessep. We might despise the character's "means" to his "ends," but Sipp manages to earn a bit of sympathy for Jessep's ultimate goal of "saving lives." However, it is the classic idea that this is a character that we will "love to hate" (more and more) that prevails. Buckle your seat belt when Jessep takes the witness stand.

Gerald Louis Campbell presents a Markinson whose attitudes are in stark contrast to those of Jessep. The character's ambivalence concerning his "duty" and his "higher duty" are apparent.

Xenon Winslow nails Downey's gentle and slow nature, and Calvin Rubes captures the stoicism of Dawson.

David Keats' Ross is appropriately pragmatic, but it is easy to sense more than a little reluctance on the part of the character as the stakes of the legal "chess game" between Ross and Kaffee escalate.

Louise Martin uses precise timing and tone-of-voice to milk a touch of comedy out of several of the lines spoken by the otherwise "no-nonsense" Randolph.

And Joe Nussbaum makes it easy to read Stone's reactions to the rock-and-a-hard-place predicament that Jessep weasels him into.

The Tech:

Sage Amthor Twiss has handled set and prop design. Rolled in and carried on furniture easily convert a stage that starts out nearly bare to a variety of locations.

Denise Schumaker has tackled the massive undertaking of costuming 17 actors (many of whom need multiple outfits) and has emerged victorious.

Lighting designer Claire Zaro supplies the correct ambience and the various moods needed for the piece, and sound designer Juan Isler has provided the necessary effects and appropriate music.

Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder (left) and William Kalland star as Lt. J.G.'s Daniel A. Kaffee and Sam Weinberg (photo by Mike Krogh)

Nice Touches (and these are just a few of the plethora):

• The terse, military fashion with which Dawson and Downey speak.
• Downey's accent, his tones of voice, and his obvious lack of self-confidence.
• The coffee and bagel "shell game" between Kaffee and Weinberg in an early scene.
• Kendrick kicking a briefcase.
• Kaffee tossing a book.
• The "freeze-frame" of all other action as Markinson speaks the contents of a key letter.
• Repetitions of the word "crystal" and of the word "oregano."
• Galloway being the only character who takes advantage of the luggage-on-wheels technology.

Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder (left) and David Keats star as Lt. J.G. Daniel A. Kaffee and Lt. Jack Ross (photo by Mike Krogh)

Memorable Lines (again, just a few from the many):

• "I didn't care enough about this meeting to be on time."
• "Was that 'oh-six-hundred' in the morning?"
• "When I quote Melville, you don't have to nod your head like you know what I'm talking about."
• "She often has no point. It's part of her charm."
• "Roll the dice and take your chances."
• "I just melt when you sugar-talk me Kaffee."
• "I know how to fight, but you know how to win."
• "By a leash if necessary."
• "My x-ray vision is failing me."
• "That makes two of us."

The Justice Theater Project cast for A Few Good Men includes (from left) Jordan Warren as Cpl. Dunn, Amelia Lumpkin as Lt. Cmdr.
Joanne Galloway, Joe Nussbaum as Cmdr. Walter Stone, and Louise Martin as Capt. Julius Alexander Rudolph (photo by Mike Krogh)

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

A few of the naval and marine uniforms were lacking insignia on opening night; I am sure that will be fixed soon.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the stripes on Downey's uniform are actually those of a lance corporal rather than those of a private first class.

The Bottom Line:

I heartily recommend this show. If you miss it, I will, to quote Galloway, "strenuously object."

The name A Few Good Men is misleading. The Justice Theatre Project's current production of Aaron Sorkin's play showcases the work of 17 outstanding (rather than merely "good") men and women on the stage and of a creative team of nine equally top-notch artists.

But "Several Outstanding Artists" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "A Few Good Men."

No matter how many times you have seen the movie or performances of the play, you will truly enjoy this production.

Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder (left) and William Kalland star as Lt. J.G.'s Daniel A. Kaffee and Sam Weinberg (photo by Mike Krogh)

Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18-20 and 25-27), directed by Adam Twiss and starring Amelia Lumpkin as Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, Daniel Cryer-Muthedath Ryder as Lt. J.G. Daniel A. Kaffee, Jerry Sipp as Col. Nathan Jessep, Calvin Rubes as Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson, Louise Martin as Capt. Julius Alexander Rudolph, Mara Thomas as Cpl. Hammaker, William Kalland as Lt. J.G. Sam Weinberg, David Keats as Lt. Jack Ross, Xenon Winslow as PFC Louden Downey, Jaye Bullock as PFC William T. Santiago, Kevin Ferguson as Capt. Isaac Whitaker, Jeffrey A. Nugent as Tom, Gerald Louis Campbell as Lt. Col. Matthew A. Markinson, Tripp Nilles as Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick, Zachery A. Rayburn as Cpl. Jeffrey Owen Howard, Jordan Warren as Cpl. Dunn, and Joe Nussbaum as Cmdr. Walter Stone (The Justice Theater Project at Umstead Park United Church of Christ in Raleigh). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://bit.ly/AFGMprogram. TRAILERS: https://youtu.be/dbb1dFY5CQk. PRESENTER: https://www.thejusticetheaterproject.org/, https://www.facebook.com/Justicetheater, https://www.instagram.com/justicetheaterproject/, https://twitter.com/justicetproject, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNGoYepGz-n99gOyTAj7QTg/videos?view=0&sort=p. 2024-25 SEASON: https://www.thejusticetheaterproject.org/season-2425. VENUE: https://www.upucc.org/, https://www.facebook.com/UmsteadParkUCC, https://www.instagram.com/umsteadparkucc/, https://twitter.com/UPUCC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/upucc/featured. DIRECTIONS/MAP: https://www.upucc.org/contact. A FEW GOOD MEN (1989 University of Virginia, Kennedy Center, and Broadway courtroom drama): https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/2810/a-few-good-men, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/a-few-good-men-1092, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Few_Good_Men_(play). THE SCRIPT (excerpts): https://books.google.com/books. STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): . AARON SORKIN (New York City-born playwright and screenwriter): https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/2038/aaron-sorkin, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/aaron-sorkin-3871, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aaron-Sorkin, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Sorkin. NOTE: Click here and scroll down for a couple of preshow and post-show events. TICKETS: $25 ($10 students and educators, and $22 seniors and active-duty military personnel), except $22 per person for cast members and groups of 10 or more. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-264-7089 or thejusticetheaterproject@gmail.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: The Justice Theater Project and Umstead Park United Church of Christ.

WHAT: Triangle Review is a FREE weekly e-mail performing-arts and film newsletter, edited and published by Robert W. McDowell since August 2001.

TO SUBSCRIBE: To start your FREE subscription today, sign up in the subscription box at the beginning of this e-mail; or e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line. TO UNSUBSCRIBE: E-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type UNSUBSCRIBE-TR in the Subject: line.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? E-mail all questions, comments, and Letters to the Editor to RobertM748@aol.com. For Letters to the Editor, please include a daytime telephone number in your e-mail.

COPYRIGHT: Editorial content in all formats © 2024 Triangle Review and the author of each article. Reproduction in any form without authorization of Triangle Review and the respective authors is prohibited. Triangle Review maintains an archive of past issues. To request copies of past articles and/or issues, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com.