On Theater:

There are, basically, two great military courtroom dramas: Herman Wouk’s “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” and Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men.”

In the space of two years, the Newport Theater Arts Center has staged both of them — under the same director and featuring the same actor as the twisted authority figure. Gigi Fusco Meese mounted “Caine” in 2008 and now has a powerful production of “Men” on the Newport stage.

The crime at the crux of the first was, of course, mutiny. The offense at issue here is murder — or, rather, the responsibility for murder. Does it rest with the two Marines who beat a recalcitrant private, resulting in his death, or does the blame go higher up — much higher?

The task of uncovering these facts falls to a cocky young Navy lieutenant with a record of settling cases out of court, sweeping them under the rug — which the military brass expects will be done in this instance as well. But the lieutenant, imbued with his late father’s boldness, feels duty-bound to prove he can “handle the truth.”

Director Meese has assembled a strong, capable cast for the Newport production, particularly in the central roles. Jonathan Deroko takes on the brash Navy lawyer, made memorable on screen by Tom Cruise, with a flippancy that gradually morphs into determination as he presses the Marine Corps brass for answers that will exonerate the two young Marines he’s defending.

As his ultimate adversary, the steely Guantanamo Bay base commander, Michael Turner (who played Queeg in NTAC’s “Caine”) turns in a riveting performance. It’s unfortunate that his climactic moment is diluted by the theater’s censorship, although Deroko’s equally risque final thrust to him is left intact.

A third, equally powerful performance emerges in the form of Skye McCabe’s hidebound Marine Corps lieutenant, invested with equal doses of militarism and religion. McCabe virtually rattles the rafters in his gung-ho commands to his platoon leaders and becomes a formidable force in the courtroom.

As the female naval officer who joins the defense team, Nakisa Aschtiani has some biting individual moments, but doesn’t fully sustain this character. Robbie Moore, by contrast, takes the generally low-key role of Deroko’s trial associate and turns it into a strident, conscience-grabbing characterization.

As the two Marines on trial, Jim Wethe and David Kinne project the righteous defiance that has been drilled into their characters, with Wethe in particular tossing down the ideological gauntlet. Matthew Dougherty as the Marine Corps prosecutor (and softball rival of Deroko’s character) is soft but cunning in his courtroom approach.

Other notable performances, both as Marine Corps captains, come from Mark Kaufman as Aschtiani’s affable supervisor and Vince Campbell as Turner’s executive officer, who is plagued by attacks of conscience. Eldon Callaway is believable as a Navy doctor testifying as to the cause of the enlisted man’s death.

Andrew Otero’s stark, multi-functional setting works well, and his background mural depicting a Guantanamo guard tower is imposing indeed. Particularly impressive is Tony Carnaghi’s arresting sound plot composed of military music and “sound off” vocal effects.

“A Few Good Men” is a familiar story, primarily due to the impact that Cruise and Jack Nicholson made on the screen, but it retains the power to capture and stir the spirit.

Orange Coast College will hold auditions next week for an updated production of “Hamlet” by former OCC professor John Ferzacca.

The tryouts will be at 6 p.m. Monday, and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the Drama Lab. Alex Golson is directing the adapted version of the Shakespearean tragedy, which will be staged March 17 to 21 in OCC’s Robert B. Moore Theater.

If You Go

What: “A Few Good Men”

Where: Newport Theater Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays until Feb. 21

Cost: $20

Call: (949) 631-0288

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Fridays.