Let’s begin with a confession. I’ve never seen A Few Good Men. I know. A film graduate who has managed to dodge one of the most quoted courtroom dramas on the planet. In my defence, I’m not alone – because neither had a lot of the younger cast!
And it’s not because I dislike courtroom stories or military thrillers. I actually love both. My blind spot is Tom Cruise. I cannot explain it. Something in me just taps out the moment I see him sprinting on screen.
So, walking into QPAC for Queensland Theatre’s take on Aaron Sorkin’s play, staged as part of QPAC’s 40th anniversary celebrations, I only knew five words of the entire script. And yes, it is the exact five words you are thinking of. Somehow, I had managed to hold off on watching the film for years, so having this powerhouse Brisbane season land in front of me felt like a blessing.
It was a strange lead-up to opening night. My girlfriend, Georgia, had zero interest in seeing the show. She made this clear. Repeatedly. So, I figured I would take my mum instead, a fellow Tom Cruise avoider.
Then life decided it would rewrite the plan, and my aunty ended up in hospital. Mum rushed off to Lismore, and suddenly Georgia found herself as my unwilling theatre date after all. I only mention this, as she walked out in complete awe. She was literally going to stay home and work, but walked out saying, “… (It was) without a doubt the best play I have seen in years.” Truthfully, she isn’t wrong.
There is so much to praise about this unbelievable production that it’s hard to know where to begin. But we have to start somewhere, and the technical elements of the show are what pushed A Few Good Men from being ‘good’ theatre into being something completely gripping.
Daniel Evans has delivered direction that feels razor sharp. He takes what could so easily fall into the rhythm of a static, stiff courtroom drama and shoots it forward with an energy that never lets up.
Mike Willmett’s composition and sound design are extraordinary. That is not hyperbole. I have never heard a score in a courtroom play like this. Pulsing chants, heavy beats, and a kind of marching heartbeat between scenes propel the story in a way that makes you sit forward and lock in.
It creates power, intimacy and tension in equal measure. It flicks from atmospheric to confrontational. It wraps around the actors and makes the world feel alive. It is, in my opinion, one of the defining achievements of the production.
Then there is the lighting. Honestly, what is a Brisbane production without Ben Hughes at the helm. The design is harsh, bold and stunning. Hughes uses beams that carve the stage into isolated pockets, underlining the loneliness of Gitmo and the moral isolation of the characters trapped there.
Above the stage, lighting racks glide up and down like living machinery. They hang, rise, sink and shift in ways that turn them into silent characters. The environments they create are intimidating, beautiful and sometimes even frightening.
The combination of Willmett’s score and Hughes’ lighting, guided by Evans’ Matilda Award-winning eye, forms the spine of the entire night. If someone asked me what makes this show special, I would point straight to that trio.
The performances match the technical mastery. I do not have the word count to individually name everyone, but every single performer deserves serious praise. It is a rare thing to watch a cast where there is not a single weak link. It feels like the company has been assembled with absolute precision.
George Pullar’s take on Lt j.g. Daniel Kaffee feels so natural that you almost forget you’re watching someone act. He strolls on like he’s wandered in from a completely different play and somehow still owns the space.
There’s this mix of charm and smug cleverness about him, but Pullar never pushes it too hard. He lets Kaffee’s wit sit under the surface, like he’s constantly two steps ahead but pretending he isn’t.
At first, he seems almost too relaxed, almost casual to a fault, and then the story tightens around him, and suddenly he’s laser-focused. That shift catches you off guard in the best way. It’s the moment where you realise just how good he is.
Hayden Spencer delivers an incredible performance as Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep. And by that, I mean he is so easy to hate. Spencer embodies Jessep with a fierce, bone-deep belief in the Marines. The posture, the voice, the stillness, the explosive moments of control. All of it works.
His “protect the border at any cost” attitude radiates through the theatre. Nobody will ever outdo Jack Nicholson on those famous words, but Spencer gets close. Very close. He is magnetic, terrifying and impossible to look away from.
Courtney Cavallaro stands strong as the only woman in a sea of men. She holds her ground with confidence and clarity, and every moment she spends opposite Pullar crackles.
And Donne Ngabo, in one of his first major theatre credits, is outstanding as Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson. His precision, stillness and emotional depth hit exactly where they need to.
There are so many others worthy of mention and praise, and it speaks volumes that you walk away feeling like every performer has delivered something significant.
Queensland Theatre Company’s A Few Good Men is powerful, thrilling and incredibly well crafted. It takes a story that is familiar to many and presents it with boldness and clarity. It is by far one of Queensland Theatre Company’s strongest productions in years, a technical and performance masterclass.
If this is QPAC’s idea of marking a big anniversary, then honestly, they should start inventing a few more reasons to celebrate. I had no idea this was the version of A Few Good Men I’d been holding out for, but here we are. And seeing it live before ever touching the film feels like a win. Take that, Tom Cruise!
A Few Good Men is presented by Queensland Theatre Company and runs to 7 December at The Playhouse, QPAC.
Tickets: https://qpac.n.qtix.com.au/tickets/series/qtafewgoodmen25
Website: https://queenslandtheatre.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/qldtheatreco/
Photo credits: Stephen Henry
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One response to “Review: Queensland Theatre’s A Few Good Men Is A Triumph”
An absolutely fantastic play, A Few Good Men, I was concerned that I would find it tame due to having watched the movie so many times. I was so wrong, I was riveted for the whole performance, the tension just never lets up, everything from the acting, direction, lighting and music was just first class. There are so many outstanding performances from the actors, all of them from the leads to minor roles were just superb. I could easily go along and watch this play again, it’s that good!!! Everyone associated with this production should be commended. Five stars out of five for mine.