Cream City’s ‘a few good men’ finds more than a few good actors
Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep, left, (Paul Weir) confronts Capt. Matthew Markinson (Greg Ryan) in a scene from Cream City Theater’s “A Few Good Men.”
By MARILYN JOZWIK
Published Oct. 18, 2019
Anyone who has seen the movie “A Few Good Men” will no doubt remember Jack Nicholson as Lt. Col. Jessep a witness in the dramatic court room finale shouting, “You can’t handle the truth!” at Lt. J.G. Kaffee, the defense lawyer played by Tom Cruise.
Cream City Theater is presenting a staged reading of the show, directed by Katherine Beeson, for just four performances. And while the group wasn’t able to get Nicholson and Cruise, the two local actors they procured to play those parts are outstanding, making this drama-filled scene perhaps one of the most memorable I’ve seen. The two are so into their characters, the intensity is chilling.
Nicholas Callan Haubner plays Kaffee, an unmotivated lawyer known for taking the easy way out with plea bargains. He is assigned to defend a couple of Marines accused of murdering another Marine at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba during a hazing incident. While the two --- Lance Cpl. Dawson (James Lynch) and Pfc. Downey (Zach Guerrero) – maintain their innocence, Kaffee is convinced there is no way out but to take a plea bargain with short jail time and admit their guilt, which would result in a dishonorable discharge for both. a
In the meantime, Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway (Joanna Langworthy), another lawyer, thinks there is corruption and a coverup at the top and convinces Kaffee to go to trial. But there are some significant set-backs leading to the base commanding officer, Jessep’s (Paul Weir), compelling, climactic testimony.
Cpl. Jeffrey Owen Howard (Jacob Allen), left, reacts to an order given by Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick (Jeremy Welter) in a scene from Cream City Theater’s “A Few Good Men.”
The show describes what happens to Pfc. William Santiago (Michael Haubner), a lackluster Marine trying to find a way out of the base. We hear him speaking, reciting from letters he wrote describing his poor treatment and an incident he observed that, if revealed, could embarrass the base. He’s hoping that that knowledge will be his ticket out.
Instead, he ends up dead and a chain of command is in question. Who gave orders to do what? Who is ultimately responsible? In the end, it is two powerful institutions – the law and the military – going toe-to-toe. It is a paper/scissors/rock scenario – which will come out on top?
The staged reading created a set full of stands, which were efficiently and unobtrusively used in the dialogue-heavy show. Characters were “off book” much of the time, especially during the emotionally intense scenes, and made judicious and unobtrusive use of their scripts.
There are several additional outstanding performances, including Lynch’s Dawson, who has no regard for Kaffee and refuses to address him with respect. Lynch maintains a defiant countenance – chin raised, jaw set, eyes fixed -- as he straddles the worlds of law and military with their sometimes opposing sets of values and virtues.
Jeremy Welter as Lt. Kendrick, the platoon commander, who sees the world through a God and Marines prism, is spellbinding on the stand. Choosing his accented words carefully, sometimes dripping with contempt, he sneers as he answers Kaffee. “The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer Colonel Nathan R. Jessep and the Lord our God,” he says in court.
Scott Fudali as Lt. J.G. Weinberg, the third defense attorney on the case, offers a steady, theatrical hand in the intense scenes, while John Reilly as Lt. Ross, the prosecuting attorney, also keeps a cool head on his character during the emotional fireworks.
But it is Haubner and Weir who command the stage fully. Haubner transforms from the “don’t give a damn” lawyer to one who sees the value of the fight, with the help of Galloway. He commands every scene he’s in, navigating his character’s self-doubt as well as the contempt of his military mates.
Weir as Jessep is the consummate military man, saying that Marines “follow orders, or men die.” Weir’s deep, resonant voice makes all his pronouncements even more striking. Weir displays Jessep’s anger and passion when he’s on the witness stand with a force that brings a palpable fear to the audience. He is the ideal actor for the part, and he and Haubner create a theatrical tour de force in pulling off the dramatic climax.
The show is crisply staged and moves well, while simple khaki tops and dark bottoms provide enough costuming to furnish a suitable military feel.
If you go
Who: Cream City Theater
What: “A Few Good Men”
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. Oct. 20
Where: Inspiration Studios, 1500 S. 73rd St., West Allis
Info/Tickets: www.CreamCityTheater.com