Those are big shoes to fill. Jarhett Gaines will be taking on the 1992 Tom Cruise movie role this weekend during the Kauai Community Players production of “A Few Good Men.” The stage play, a Broadway hit, was written by
Those are big shoes to fill.
Jarhett Gaines will be taking on the 1992 Tom Cruise movie role this weekend during the Kauai Community Players production of “A Few Good Men.”
The stage play, a Broadway hit, was written by Aaron Sorkin (of “West Wing” TV and “Moneyball” film fame) at age 28. He received the coveted John Gassner Award as Outstanding New American Playwright for the play version.
“The play is very similar to the movie,” said play director Dennis McGraw. “It’s a fast-moving show. There’s the courtroom, an office, the Brigg, a hotel room, lots of changes, more than 50. Instead of constant black-outs that would kill the moment, we leave actors on stage in between the changes.”
A last-minute cast adjustment one week before the opening put McGraw into the show himself as Capt. Mathew Markinson. His dual role as director and now actor had him scrambling to learn the two long speeches by for the captain serving at a military base where goings-on are in question. McGraw is one of 15 men in the show in addition to one woman (played by Brooke Morgan), playing the role of a Navy lawyer. She encourages Gaines’ character, Lt. Daniel Kaffee, fresh out of law school, to uncover and defend the truth in a case revolving around the death of a Marine at Guantanamo Bay.
“The character is real rich,” said Gaines. “He is afraid to go all the way for fear he won’t live up to his father’s success.”
Gaines believes the lawyer role is the best male part written in over 20 years and was excited to be cast to play it.
“I’m really stepping out of my comfort zone,” Gaines said. “Especially since I’m not sarcastic in my real life like this guy is.”
Hoping the character’s negative traits don’t rub off on him outside the theater, Gaines said he has stayed away from watching the film version of the story, wanting to make the role his own.
The play opens Friday at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse, 4411 Kikowaena St. and runs for three weekends, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $20 and $15 opening weekend. Tickets purchased at the door have a $2 surcharge.
Info: (800) 838-3006.
