by Jess Hoffman
It was with high hopes that I braved Friday’s snowstorm to see Creative License Theater Collective’s production of A Few Good Men at the Cohoes Music Hall. I greatly enjoyed the iconic 1992 film based on this play–a gripping courtroom drama about two soldiers accused of murdering another private–and I had a feeling that Aaron Sorkin’s witty and fast-paced dialogue would be even more enjoyable on stage, as long as it was in the hands of a competent cast.
Luckily, most if not all of the cast thoroughly rose to the challenges provided by Sorkin’s script. One of the biggest challenges in a play about military personnel is being able to portray layered emotional characters while maintaining the military stoicism one would expect from a soldier. Nelson Jacobs-Moore handles this superbly as Matthew Markinson, especially in his final monologue. Similarly, Chad Reid expertly adds subtle nuance to his military professionalism as the Corporal accused of murdering a fellow soldier. The military posture and articulation of all the soldiers in this show is perfect; the show lists two military consultants among its crew and their influence is apparent in both the actor’s portrayals and in the detailed and realistic military costumes.
A Few Good Men is thankfully infused with a good deal of comic relief, despite its depressing subject matter, thanks to Sorkin’s trademark banter and the excellent comedic talents of the two main cast members. Sardonic lawyer Daniel Kaffee is played with impeccable comedic delivery by Tom Templeton, and Meaghan Rogers provides an excellent foil to Templeton as the brassy investigator Joanne Galloway.
Much can be made of the title, A Few Good Men. It is, first and foremost, an old slogan associated with the United States Marines, but in the context of this play it becomes much more loaded. Who exactly are the “good men” in this play and how “few” are the good ones? Are the accused soldiers actually “good men” deep down despite their violent actions? What about lackadaisical lawyers who beg their clients to take plea bargains when they may, in fact, have been innocent victims of circumstance? I’ll not turn this review into a literary analysis essay by attempting to answer these queries, but I will say that both the script and the performers of A Few Good Men make it clear that each character believes he or she is one of the “good” ones. The play’s antagonists, dubious soldiers, Jessep and Kendrick (played with the perfect amount of arrogance by Shawn Morgan and Ian LaChance respectively) and the prosecuting lawyer Jack Ross (played with the perfect amount of smarminess by David Quiñones Jr.) seem to fully believe that their actions are for the greater good in some way. The thorough detailing of all characters involved adds layers of complexity to a play that could have otherwise been a courtroom cliché about good vs. evil and justice duly served. Chris Urig (playing attorney Sam Weinberg with the lightness and charm afforded the character) provides pithy insight into the moral ambiguity of the plot when he says of the accused marines: “I believe every word they said. And I think they should go to jail for the rest of their lives.”
A Few Good Men is not without its challenges or its clichés. Perhaps it should go without saying that such an iconic courtroom drama is going to involve lawyers regularly objecting to one another’s questioning, a judge reminding lawyers to get to the point, at least one last-minute piece of evidence that changes the entire proceeding, and a shocking confession made by a witness while on the stand; but I still feel I should warn audiences that this play requires some suspension of disbelief around how court proceedings actually progress. And while I’m a fan of Sorkin’s dialogue, it can be dense and hard for some people to follow, especially with a lot of military jargon mixed in. (I overheard one woman in the restroom at intermission admitting to her friends that she couldn’t follow the plot, but based on her friends’ responses, I think she was in the minority.)
There are also some considerations to be taken around staging a play about military honor and extreme patriotism in today’s political climate, though ultimately the themes in A Few Good Men transcend time periods and partisan politics. Sure enough, the moment the audience sits down they are presented with a giant American flag across the backdrop of an otherwise sparsely furnished stage. Director Aaron Holbritter seems to understand that if one is going to stage a military drama about duty, honor, and patriotism, one might as well go big or go home.
All in all, A Few Good Men met its challenges head-on and the result is a wonderful, riveting, and gut-wrenching (yet still funny) drama about what happens when obedience clashes with honor and duty clashes with morality. Anyone who likes a courtroom drama full of witty banter and a complete cast of characters all operating within their own moralities will be delighted by Creative Lisence’s current production.
Creative License presents A Few Good Men by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Aaron Holbritter, runs from January 31st-February 9th, 2025, at the Cohoes Music Hall, 58 Remsen Street in Cohoes, NY. Produced by Casey Polomaine. Stage managed by Rhiannon Antico. Cast: Chad Reid as Harold Dawson, Marquis Heath as Loudon Downey, Tom Templeton as Daniel Kaffee, Chris Urig as Sam Weinberg, Meaghan Rogers as Joanne Galloway, David Rook as Isaac Whitaker, Thom Ingram as Lawyer/Dunn & others, Ian Hollowood as Lawyer/Hammicker & others, J Scala as William Santiago, Shawn Morgan as Nathan Jessup, Nelson Jacobs-Moore as Matthew Markinson, Ian LaChance as Jonathan Kendrick, David Quiñones Jr. as Jack Ross, Stephen Henel as Jeffrey Howard, J Hunter as Judge Julius Randolph, and Gary Hoffman as Walter Stone. Lighting Design by Maya Krantz. Costumes by Casey Polomaine and Lisa Morgan (provided by The Costumer). Sound design by Aaron Holbritter. Military consultants: Shawn Morgan (US Army, Ret.) & GySgt Paul Hauschen, USMC.
Performance dates are Friday-Sunday. Friday, and Saturday curtains are at 7:30pm and Sundays are matinees only at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors 65 and up, and $25 for military and students. Runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. Contains strong language and discussions of violence and assault. Recommended for ages 13+. Tickets are available online at https://www.thecohoesmusichall.org/events/2025/few-good-men, by phone at 518-434-0776, or at the door for any performance.