‘A Few Good Men’ Broadway Review: Bradley Whitford And Tom Blyth Manhandle The Truth
A Lincoln Center Theater revival of Aaron Sorkin’s *A Few Good Men*, directed by Michael Arden and starring Bradley Whitford, Tom Blyth and Krysta Rodriguez, revisits the military courtroom drama about a Marine’s death and the attempt to uncover who ordered the hazing that led to it. The review says the play’s themes of bullying, abuse of authority and scapegoating feel especially relevant today, but argues that their familiarity leaves the production with little power to surprise or provoke.
Blyth plays inexperienced defence lawyer Daniel Kaffee, assisted by Sam Weinberg and JoAnne Galloway, who suspects the two accused Marines are being blamed to protect Colonel Nathan Jessep, played by Whitford. The staging uses Lincoln Center’s large space for settings beyond the courtroom, including a bunk and an observation tower. The review finds the production handsome and the performances controlled, but says even the famous “You can’t handle the truth!” moment feels rushed and the drama lacks sting.
In short
- Sorkin’s military courtroom drama returns in a Lincoln Center revival.
- The review sees its themes as relevant but overly familiar.
- Whitford, Blyth and Rodriguez lead the production.
Explained simply
A Few Good Men is a courtroom drama by Aaron Sorkin about the death of a US Marine at Guantánamo Bay. Two fellow Marines are accused of causing his death during a hazing ritual, and their defence lawyers investigate whether they acted on orders from a senior officer.
The central figures include Daniel Kaffee, a young lawyer who initially lacks courtroom experience, his colleagues JoAnne Galloway and Sam Weinberg, and Colonel Nathan Jessep, the officer whose command is under scrutiny. The story explores the chain of command in the military and questions who bears responsibility when people in authority give orders.
The play’s focus on bullying, abuse of authority and blame helps explain why it continues to be staged. Its courtroom confrontations also make it a well-known drama about the tension between following orders and seeking the truth.