Chances are you have seen the Rob Reiner film “A Few Good Men,” starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson, but have you seen the play that inspired it? It’s a riveting, suspenseful tale and a searing courtroom drama that shows the struggle of three Naval officers as they defend two young, enlisted Marines accused of murdering one of their own in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Written by Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”), this contemporary American classic raises the questions of what it means to have honor, loyalty, and humanity in today’s world.

When LCpl. Harold Dawson (Andrew Huckaby) and Pfc. Louden Downey (Damien Haas) are charged with the murder of Pfc. Willy Santiago (Chris Linsey), the Navy selects Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Chris Mathis), a fun-loving, wise-cracking softball enthusiast with six months experience and a penchant for plea-bargaining cases, to head their defense team. To assist Kaffee, Capt. Isaac Whitaker (Andy Chambers) assigns Lt. Sam Weinberg (Keith White), who has “no responsibilities whatsoever.” Rounding out the defense team is Lt.Cdr. Joanne Galloway (Alison Chambers), an idealistic young go-getter who has a tendency to put her foot in her mouth.
Scott Couch, a former Marine, plays the formidable Col. Nathan R. Jessup, the role made famous by Nicholson.

“Scott brings his military experience, his life experiences, and his acting abilities to the stage, and the result is a performance that’s better than Jack himself,” said Twilight director Alison Chambers.

A former Marine drill sergeant, Ed Jackson, takes on the role of Lt.Col. Matthew Markinson, a man of honor who can’t accept his failure to prevent Santiago’s death.

“Though he may not have known it before now, Ed is a natural. From the very first night of rehearsal, his instincts about this character have been right on target,” Chambers said. “Scott and Ed have been invaluable resources in making the Marines of Gitmo authentic.”

Coming all the way from Lawrenceville, Sean Anderson plays cold, overzealous Lt. Kendrick.
“While we’re delighted to have a lot of local actors in the show, we’re very proud to have four people who commute rather long distances to join us,” Chambers added.

The prosecutor, Capt. Jackie Ross, will be played by Amanda Burger. Portrayed by Kevin Bacon in the movie, Twilight decided to cast a female in the role to add another layer of depth and conflict. Presiding over the court-martial is Judge Randolph (Jim Douds). The rest of the ensemble includes Simon Kornblit, Shelby Barker, Diane Wilfong, Robert Gwaltney, Daniel Gwaltney, and Paul Washington.

“A Few Good Men” will run July, 7, 8, 14, and 15 at the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City. The patriotic pre-show, which will include a salute to former and active military members, begins at 7:30, and the show begins at 8 p.m. Gold Tables and general admission tickets are available, and there will be discounted tickets for military, seniors, and students. Tickets can be purchased during regular business hours at the amphitheater box office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster location, or by calling 404-249-6500.

For more information, visit www.TheTwilightTheatre.com or call 770-631-0630. Parental guidance advised.

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