‘A Few Good Men’ Handles the Truth

PACIFIC PALISADES – A Few Good Men was a Broadway hit before it was a film with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. Aaron Sorkin (West Wing) got the idea for this play from his lawyer sister who went to Cuba to defend some Marines at Guantanamo Bay accused of attempted murder. In the play version, military lawyers uncover a high level conspiracy while trying to represent their clients.
The story starts out at Guantanamo Bay in 1986 where a Marine, Pfc. William T. Santiago (David Espinosa), mysteriously dies. An inexperienced JAG lawyer, Daniel Kaffee (Rico Simonini), living in the shadows of his famous lawyer father, and a brash attorney Joanne Galloway (Heidi Brook Myers) set out to prove the innocence of two Marines accused of the crime. Over the course of the story Kaffee matures as an attorney, due in part to the eager and impetuous Galloway.
Although the play takes place in various locales, it is the courtroom scenes that are the most compelling. Minimalist sets and lighting create the illusion of a military court martial, while the lawyers dominate the stage taking turns interrogating. Notable performances by Simonini and Peter Karlin, as Sam Weinberg, who together complete the stellar defense team. W.A. Steele, as Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep, who had the unenviable job of recreating the role that won Nicholson the Oscar® for best supporting actor, did a credible job as the unyielding commander.
I must admit, the beginning of the play started out a little rough, with actors slurring and rushing their lines, but by the end, the cast had settled into their roles and won me over with a rich, emotionally packed performance of a demanding and important story.
A Few Good Men is at the Theater Pacific - Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road, Pacific Palisades. Show times: Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. through July 15. Tickets: Friday and Sunday adults $16, seniors and students $14. Saturday adults $18, senior and students $16. Call (310) 454-1970. Some strong language and themes.