Theater Review: Academy’s ‘A Few Good Men’ Handles The Truth Just Fine

“You can’t handle the truth.” 

It’s an iconic line that many instantly recognize. For those who don’t (and even those who do), there’s a show in Orleans that needs to be seen.

On Sept. 18 the Academy of Performing Arts debuted its latest production, “A Few Good Men.” The play by Aaron Sorkin is the basis for the classic film directed by Rob Reiner, written by Sorkin, and starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, among others. The Academy’s production is directed by Ryan Van Buskirk and features Patrick Preston as Lt. (J.G.) Kaffee and Randy Doyle as Col. Jessup. 

The show was everything I hoped it would be. It hits the beats of the film while allowing the actors on the stage to explore and grow into the characters in ways that were unique to themselves and true to the original narrative. The production design was inventive, as multiple scenes stayed on the stage at once, allowing the action to be fast and fluid and heighten the tension of the narrative. All in all, “A Few Good Men” at the Academy of Performing Arts is a mix between the popcorn-prestige courtroom drama and local theater at its best. 

For those unfamiliar with the story, the action centers on two marines, LCPL Dawson and PFC Downey (played by Bendan Conlin and Connor McLeod, respectively) who are under arrest for the alleged murder of PFC Santiago (Lucas Almedia). Lt. Galloway (Erica Morris) arrives in Washington to inform the superiors of her interest in representing Dawson and Downey, only to find out that they are to be represented by Kaffee, who will be assisted by Lt. (J.G.) Weinberg, also played by Van Buskirk. The remaining action follows the trio of Kaffee, Weinberg and Galloway as they uncover the details of the crime, encountering Jessup and others as they work to build the best case they can for the eventual trial awaiting them at the end of the line. The story is about honor and duty and the manner in which different types of people address such ideas in their lives.

There are standout performances galore in this production. Preston and Doyle have to be mentioned in the same breath. Both actors took a role that is firmly engraved in the public consciousness and neither shied away from the moment. Preston’s Kaffee has all the sly arrogance from the Cruise performance, and he is able to access the depths of the character as the story progresses, eventually becoming the person who learns to stand for something as he confronts his family legacy and becomes his own person. Doyle is pitch-perfect as Jessup. He's just as much the smug, pedantic, authoritarian as Nicholson made legendary, and he does it in such a force of nature manner that it has to be experienced. The benefit to the production is that the story forces the actors to grow, naturally aiding and exacerbating the clash that the final conflict needs. Preston and Doyle both meet each other in that moment, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. 

I was a fan of Morris and Van Buskirk in their aid of Preston's Kaffee. There are a couple of ways to explain how Morris’ Galloway exists in the story; essentially she is a catalytic agent who is there to call out Kaffee every chance she can. And in the context of the story, she has every reason to do that. Morris answers the call with aplomb. She portrays the striving, high-strung Galloway, who sees the detainment of Dawson and Downey as an injustice of procedure, with an understated intensity that is very much needed and appropriate for the role. Van Buskirk may not have to go as big a character arc as Weinberg, but he does have to serve as relief and as a foundation for Kaffee as they wade deeper and deeper into the conspiracy of the story. Van Buskirk delivers the wry humor of Weinberg with efficiency and served as a point of laughter many times in the opening performance. 

Truthfully, all of the cast have reason to be celebrated. Conlin and McLeod hit the marks as Dawson and Downey. Conlin's restrained rage as Dawson seeps through his performance. McLeod perfectly carries the emotional weight of the simplistic Downey as he registers the gravity of the situation. Keith Chamberlain's Lt. Col. Markinson plays the Marine who comes to terms with his role in the saga and does his best to resolve the issue in an honorable manner. Billy Weiner is everything you want from First Lt. Kendrick, a marine whose zealous attitude is worn on their sleeve. Kevin Kenneally serves well as First Lt. Ross, playing the reluctant opposing lawyer who doesn’t want the trial to get any bigger. The remaining cast — Almedia, Suzanne Fecteau, Jeff Almedia, Esme Van Buskirk, Gus Van Buskirk, Liam O'Hara, Lee Lacroix and Nicholas Dorr — all contribute in a positive manner that aids the show.