THEATER REVIEW : A Case of Trial and Error : Even This Solid Production of ‘A Few Good Men’ in Huntington Beach Can’t Overcome a Weak Script

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Without the production values that helped create tension and rivet the audience’s attention in its original Broadway run, Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men” seems a very old-fashioned piece of work. It’s little more than a play about a trial, a theatrical staple at best, a static drama at its worst.

Even in this valid production at Huntington Beach Playhouse, the action is minimal. Two Marines have been accused of murdering another Marine during a punishment detail. Their innocence is a given. So is the guilt of their gung-ho, Neanderthal commanding officer.

The only tantalizing and fairly fresh ingredient is the character of the Navy attorney assigned to defend them. Young Lt. j.g. Dan Kaffee, son of a famous trial lawyer, has a reputation for settling cases through plea bargains and wants to follow suit in this case.

His main adversary is Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, who has lost every case she ever tried but insists on taking this one to trial. Their tilting and jousting helps keep the interest up even during the derivative trial scenes.

Considering the many obstacles in the script, director Gregory Cohen has pulled everything together very neatly as far as the dramatic elements he has to work with. The almost constant marching, cadence-shouting Marines of the Broadway staging are replaced by a smaller, rather limpid group of male voices that is sometimes heard speaking their cadence over the theater’s sound system. That avoids the problem of having too many actors moving on stage but loses some of the play’s vitality and sense of urgency in the process.

As good as Jay Michael Fraley is as Kaffee--and it is a vital and energetic performance--there is no indication early on of his fear of competing with his late father, nor his preppie sense of self-worth. These are qualities necessary to explain and amplify Kaffee’s sudden shift from lazy kid-lawyer to the sure-footed adult trial attorney. Fraley doesn’t go through this important change, and the result is a solid but one-note performance.

*

As Galloway, Vanessa Ann Martin is very strong, but it’s another monochromatic performance. Martin’s Galloway has little sense of humor when taunting Kaffee, a quality that would irk him immensely and add to the shadings in their relationship.

Kaffee’s friend and associate Sam Weinberg is played by Larry Freilick with some of the humor Martin should have, and his variations in that humor are on target.

In an overall capable cast, Ron Graham is the almost psychotic career Marine villain, Lt. Col. Jessup, and gives a rewarding performance without any of the fireworks he might have used to advantage. John Michael Vaughn is excellent and powerful as the even sicker Lt. Kendrick, who lives first for the Marines and second for a Bible-beating fundamentalist and vengeful God.

Chris Guyton and Michael Piscitelli couldn’t be better as the two accused Marines, and Jon Sparks is touching as the beleaguered victim. As the prosecuting attorney, Bill Peters has a fine sharp edge sometimes softened by his own sense of humor.

* “A Few Good Men,” Huntington Beach Playhouse, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Sept. 3. $12. (714) 375-0696. Running time: 2 hours, 50 minutes.

Jay Michael Fraley: Lt. j.g. Daniel Kaffee

Vanessa Ann Martin: Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway

Larry Freilick: Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg

Ron Graham: Lt. Col. Nathan Jessup

John Michael Vaughn: Lt. Jonathan Kendrick

Chris Guyton Lance: Cpl. Harold Dawson

Michael Piscitelli: Pfc. Louden Downey

Bill Peters: Lt. Jack Ross

Jon Sparks: Pfc. William Santiago

A Huntington Beach Playhouse production of Aaron Sorkin’s trial drama. Directed by Gregory Cohen. Scenic design: Gregory Cohen and Marty Eckmann. Lighting design: Marty Eckmann. Costumes: Bill Lee. Stage manager: Terri Collins.