The Truth On Trial
dialogue dominates in CVTG’s A Few Good Men
Steve Freuhauf, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
The Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild is back with its newest production, A Few Good Men. The play-turned-film was written in 1989 by Aaron Sorkin, who went on to create The West Wing and The Newsroom. The play centers on the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and a case concerning the fate of a few Marines who kill one of their own during a hazing ritual. The play is also partially based on a true story Sorkin’s sister was involved in during her service with JAG.
CVTG has never produced A Few Good Men, nor has the play been performed locally in a long time. Considering how impressive the play’s dialogue is, director Mike Cook said the company couldn’t justify passing up the opportunity. “I would venture to say if you came and closed your eyes and just listened to the play, you would get just as much out of it as you would watching the play,” Cook said. “Watching the play would be an added bonus.”
“I would venture to say if you came and closed your eyes and just listened to the play, you would get just as much out of it as you would watching the play.” – Mike Cook, who is directing A Few Good Men at the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, on the play’s well-written dialogue
But he also said viewers shouldn’t expect an exact rendition of the film. With any transition from stage to celluloid, some changes that are necessary. The first act will serve as a culmination of everything that happens before the court case, while the second act will focus around 95 percent of its time in the courtroom.
Furthermore, unlike other elaborate stage productions put on by the CVTG, this play will feature a basic background. Thus, most of the production is left to be created solely through the script. Cook said Sorkin’s screenplays are so impressive that a detailed background would only hinder the overall production.
“This has been written to be more of a sparse-type theater,” he said. “It’s called a ‘black box theater,’ where everything is basic. So it’s not something where we are going to dazzle you with a set. It’s going to be tables and chairs, basically.”
Don Hodgins, who plays Col. Nathan Jessup, said he too loves Sorkin’s writing and was excited to have the opportunity to act in the production. Currently, he said the cast is still figuring out some intricacies with their individual characters, but things are coming together slowly but surely. The rehearsal time is largely for evaluation purposes anyway, making sure role development is occurring.
“It’s fun to watch the growth as the group discovers more about their characters and we learn how to work together as an ensemble,” Hodgins said. “The latter half of the rehearsal schedule is where the real work and growth happens.”
With the broad range of experience the production’s actors have, he said it’s nice to have someone as passionate as Cook leading the way. Considering his extensive theater background, Hodgins said the director is good at leading those who need it while helping more experienced actors further develop their roles.
“These people are really talented, from top to bottom,” Cook added of his cast. “They all have a good feel for what we are trying to accomplish here.”
Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild production of A Few Good Men • Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 6-8 and 13-15, 7:30pm; Sundays, Nov. 9 and 16, 1:30pm • The Grand Theatre, 102 W. Grand Ave., Eau Claire • $10-$20 • (715) 832-7529 • www.cvtg.org
