| A Few Good Men |
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by Aaron Sorkin 3 - 12 June 2010
Two privates in the US Marine Corps are accused of the murder of one of their colleagues and are about to stand trial at Court Marshal. Special Judge Advocate Counsel Lieutenant-Commander Joanne Galloway believes Dawson and Downey were just following orders - part of the Marines' unofficial "code red" system of self policing within the ranks. She believes there was no intent of murder. Galloway, a naive lawyer who seeks fairness and justice at all cost, wants to be assigned the case but she has no trial experience. Instead, the military assigns Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee to be Dawson and Downey's counsel. Kaffee is a lightweight lawyer who also has no trial experience and has a history, as Galloway points out, of taking the path of least resistance by plea bargaining regardless of his clients' guilt or innocence. Galloway becomes co-counsel in the case. The two, with their assistant Lieutenant Sam Weinberg, have to decide what to do. What they didn’t expect was the confrontation they would have with Lt. Col Jessep, the men’s commanding officer, and military tough nut. This cracking American play has all the razor sharp dialogue and sharply cut scenes that you would expect of the writer of ‘The West Wing’.
Cast
Croydon Advertiser ReviewTheo Spring June 18 2010 Director Mike Millsted had drilled his large cast from the American navy to march and salute and to build this intriguing court room drama to a forceful climax.The plot weaves a complex tale of who ordered what, of whom, and whether the lower ranks will divulge the author of these instructions. Code Red is the nub of the matter but just what is it and how does it work? A cast of 13 men and one woman found good American accents but Robin George as Lt Jack Ross didn't quite master it. Robert Presoni (Lt Kendrick) and Chester Stern (Lt Col Jessep) capture the laurels for their intense portrayals with the prosecuting trio of Jay Rolfe as Lt Kaffee, Emily Watson as Lt Comm Galloway and Gerard Kelly as Lt Weinberg adding a light relief as well as stratagem. In the dock Danniel Horton gave a fine performance as Lance Corporal Dawson alongside Stuart Cottrell as PFC Downey. Peter French was the conscientious Capt Markinson with Paul Martindale moving well from pantomime to very serious drama as Capt Whitaker. Mark Pendry judged the trial effectively and Tony Dent prevaricated as the doctor giving evidence against his own judgement. Simon Long really got into the character of Corporal Howard. Effective music was composed and performed by Mark Rogers and Peggy Mayes excelled herself with the oh! so impressive uniforms
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