This play by Herman Wouk was adapted from his Pulitzer Award winning novel,
The Caine Mutiny which made it to the big screen staring Humphrey Bogart
back in 1954.
The play is a courtroom drama, with basically only two sets. The courtroom where
the Court Martial is taking place and a hotel for the final scene.
On trial is Lt. Stephen Maryk an officer of the USN who is charged with mutiny.
Maryk, thinking that his superior, Lt. Com Queeg is mentally unstable, relieves
him from duty to avoid placing the crew of the USS Caine at risk.
As the play progresses, we hear from various witnesses testifying in court,
all the while getting an insight into the personal conflicts that affect not only
the accused and the 'unstable Lt.Commander', but most of all the defendant's attorney,
Barney Greenwald (portrayed by Steven Culp).
Steven is outstanding in this role. His character wants to win this case badly, yet
an inner conflict makes it difficult for him to do so. To win the case he must put
aside his personal feelings, some of his integrity, ruin a man's reputation, and risk
upsetting Navy superiors. It's a no win situation, and Steven goes through the
various emotions brilliantly.
Throughout Steven's performance we see his character fluctuate between being almost
'bored' during the proceedings (to the extent of failing to cross examine key
witnesses, ignoring his client, and failing to object on key issues), to strongly
going after the character of Quueg. His attack on Quueg is such, that the judge
warns him of the consequences his accusations could have on Queeg's career and
even his own future, but Greenwald does not let up. He goes after Queeg with all
his got and gets his client off.
Another brilliant performance was that of James Harper as Queeg. His scenes on the
witness stand were magnificent as he starts off as a respected commander and slowly
deteriorates into the 'unstable' man he is suspected of being by Maryk. From a man of
authority to a man that crumbles under pressure, Harper makes it all look natural.
Other characters in the play include 2 psychiatrists (portrayed by Dough Ballard
and David D. Gallagher) who provided some comic relief. Both actors are very
good in their roles. The audience shares a few laughs as Ballard's Dr. Lundeen
appears to be a little 'unstable' himself while testifying, and Gallagher's Bird comes
undone while being cross examined by Greenwald. Another very funny scene comes when
Signalman Urban (Robert Ziegler) gets on the witness stand. Ziegler is hilarious
as a naïve, not very smart, young sailor who appears to be near a brake down from the
stress of the courtroom.
But the stage belongs with no doubt to Steven as Greenwald.
When the final scene of the play takes place, we get to see Steven shine again.
In what is possibly the most 'telling' scene of the play, we find out the real
turmoil behind the character of Greenwald. As the audience finds out from a
drunk Greenwald the real reasons why this trial was so upsetting to him, we are
faced with his conflict of balancing the pursuit for justice with the personal
feelings that might affect our actions and feelings. (You'll have to see the
play for the rest of the story- Do not want to spoil it for you. )
The set is rather plain and simple with two tables, the witness stand, and the
Judge's chair in the middle of the room. For the final scene a table and
five or six chairs take center stage. It is a simple set that the actors manage
to transform into the perfect place for this courtroom drama.
While the story is very well written and keeps the audience entertained and
involved from beginning to end, going back and forth from humor to drama, it's
the great acting from all the actors involved that make this a play to remember.
Steven Culp shines once again, and continues to prove what a great, versatile
actor he is. Seeing him on stage was an incredible experience, and the fact that
he was surrounded by other very talented actors made it a wonderful experience
that I hope to have again at the Interact Theater Company.
