THEATER REVIEW

Tom Titus

The military mind often does not mesh with the conventional way of

thinking, and when conflicts between the two arise, you have a situation

similar to what playwright and “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin

dramatized in his powerful courtroom piece “A Few Good Men.”

The play, which inspired a memorable movie with Tom Cruise and Jack

Nicholson, centers on two young Marines charged with the murder of a

third and the green Navy lieutenant assigned to defend them. The search

for ultimate blame leads to the top of the Marine Corps’ ladder at their

Cuban military outpost, which sets the stage for some terrific courtroom

fireworks.

Vanguard University certainly has a few good actors in its production

of “A Few Good Men,” but unfortunately not quite enough, and the

performances range from outstanding to erratic. Nevertheless, this

student-mounted production carries a good deal of power, if only

sporadically exhibited.

The show is co-directed by two Vanguard students, Bonnie Abraham and

Christopher Tillman, with the latter nailing the role of the Marine Corps

commander with a resounding thunderclap. Tillman delivers a seething,

domineering performance tinged with the cruel sarcasm only one of his

rank could employ as he orchestrates an elaborate cover-up and attempts

to bully his way out of it on the witness stand.

As the flippant Naval defense attorney, Jeremy Brinker is engaging but

uneven, establishing his character effectively but often finding it

difficult to sustain. There are the beginnings of a strong performance

here, which ultimately may be realized.

Bethany Nelson portrays the Naval commander who worms her way onto the

defense team on basically one hostile note, requiring more variation for

a full-bodied interpretation. More effective is Paul Hanegan as the

pair’s rather ineffectual assistant, blending his wry observations with

an outrage he’s forced by duty to suppress.

The show contains two other superior performances, from Rene Scheys as

a religious fanatic Marine Corps lieutenant and Matthew Grandpre as the

Marine noncom who carries out the “Code Red” assignment that turns into

murder. Scheys turns his duty-bound officer into a frightening example of

psychotic authority, while Grandpre’s steely devotion to a way of life

that has left him twisting in the wind is powerfully rendered.

Other well-defined portrayals come from Nathan Hunt as Grandpre’s

fellow defendant, Michael Mulligan as Tillman’s conscience-wracked

executive officer and Edward J. Portillo as the harassed enlisted man

whose weakness on the training field leads to his death.

Lehua Coley credibly fills the part written for a male actor, the

military prosecutor, as does Andrea Marroqin as the post’s chief

physician. Rennie Douglas is less effective in this capacity as the

trial’s presiding judge, while Andrew Armerding has some effective

moments as a vacuous enlisted man.

Trooper Kristianson’s sound design is an integral part of the

proceedings, from the patriotic military numbers played at full volume to

the cadence-counting shouts of Marines in training that cover the

numerous set changes.

On the negative side, technically, the scenic transitions could be

better served without moving the trial set pieces on and off repeatedly,

but instead focusing the interim scenes downstage by lighting alone. And,

given the absence of any rank insignia on the tan uniforms of the defense

team, they could be officer, enlistee or civilian.

The Vanguard production of “A Few Good Men” succeeds despite its

weaker moments, due primarily to Sorkin’s excellent script and some

powerful performances in the ranks, capped by co-director Tillman’s

vicious colonel. The merits outweigh the demerits here.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

What: “A Few Good Men”

Where: Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday, with matinees 2 p.m. Saturday

and Sunday

Cost: $10.30

Call: (714) 668-6145