WRITTEN BY KRISTEN BARROS
Queensland Theatre Company’s final show for the season, opened at the Playhouse Theatre QPAC recently and what a 2025 finale it is! Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men not only shows us why he is the master playwright, but also proves why our state theatre company is the top of the game.
Sorkin’s first broadway play (opening prior to the release of the Oscar Award Winning 1992 film) follows Lance Cpl. Dawson and Pfc. Downey on trial for the murder of fellow marine, Pfc. Santiago; a marine who had been begging to be transferred off the base at Guantanamo Bay for months leading up the incident. Inspired by actual events, Sorkin’s script raises a magnifying glass to the toxic culture of the US military as a team of young military lawyers put the whole corps on trial in order to make sure two innocent men don’t pay the price for the illegal conduct of their superiors. It asks us the question, “can you do the wrong thing for the right reasons?” in the most extreme of settings.
The set and costume design by Simone Romaniuk is breathtaking. It is minimalism and spectacle all rolled into one and captivates the idea of containment in this story while allowing for the actors and the script to shine. Ben Hughes’ lighting design is perfect. It provides suspense, intimacy and an effortless shifting of space and time. Vocal and dialect coaching by Gabrielle Rogers meant that not a word was dropped in the accent, with audience members remarking during intermission that surely some of the actors are US ex-pats with accents that good! Direction by Daniel Evans (assisted by Christen O’Leary), fight choreography and intimacy direction under the expert hands of Nigel Poulton and military consultancy from James Francis cements the audience fully and completely into Sorkin’s world, with not a foot out of place and not a scene left to go off the rails. Yanni Dubler and Maddison Penglis, as the stage management team, make sure that this production is so incredibly smooth; the calls are impeccable and the transitions are seamless.
Hugh Parker, Hayden Spencer, Todd McDonald and Jimi Bani exercise their expertise in this production and give us a masterclass in storytelling. Spencer’s Jessep is manic, authoritative and terrifying and is the perfect casting for this role. His delivery of the most iconic line, “you can’t handle the truth” was met by audience admiration. Hugh Parker as Markinson gives us warmth and breath in a world that often doesn’t allow for it. His final moments on stage are spectacular and heartbreaking. Bani controls the courtroom with ease and he is calmly commanding as Randolph and each of the characters McDonald play are wonderfully distinguishable and full of nuance.
It could be easy for the rest of the cast to ride on the coattails of these great actors, but they don’t. In fact, they are impeccable. Sami Afuni’s Pfc. Santiago is devastating and has you on side immediately. Chris Alosio’s rendition of Cpl. Howard suppressing nervousness in the courtroom is a welcomed light and funny way to introduce what turns into a dark scene in the moments to follow. Courtney Cavallaro hold hers own as the only female on this base and Jeremiah Wray and Jack Bannister as Kendrick and Ross leave you wanting more from characters who are morally questionable but enamouring to watch. Doron Chester as Weinberg and George Pullar as Kaffee and Donné Ngabo and Reagan Mannix as Dawson and Downey are two very different dynamic duos and the juxtaposition of the former’s frat boy, nonchalant bond and the latter’s commitment to code is wonderful to watch and will be the reason you leave wanting to see this production again and again.
Aaron Sorkin’s A Few Good Men is playing at the Playhouse Theatre QPAC until Dec 7 2025. Whether you a fan of the film, of Sorkin’s writing and/or of great storytelling, this production will show, beyond a reasonable doubt, why the arts have an important place in the world we live in today.
WHAT: A Few Good Men, Queensland Theatre Company
WHERE: The Playhouse Theatre, QPAC
WHEN: Until December 7
TICKETS: Get your tickets to A Few Good Men here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
