The Curtain Rises for a Few Good Men

The meaning and mystery of a “Code Red” action and its impact on a group of Marines at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base are expertly unfurled during the production of “A Few Good Men” at the Arts Center Theatre.  

Produced by Fort Myers-based 7Mary34 Productions, the play is the brainchild of noted American playwright, screenwriter, and film director Aaron Sorkin. The scintillating Broadway hit is the precursor of the 1992 film, directed by Rob Reiner, which starred Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, whose shout, “You can’t handle the truth,” during the climactic scene has become part of the lexicon.  

As with the movie, the play tells the tale of two Marines facing a military trial for alleged complicity in the death of a fellow Marine at Guantanamo. The fast-paced, riveting plot takes the viewer on a journey to determine their guilt that centers on their defense team’s interactions with themselves, the base’s leadership, the military mentality, and the character and loyalties of the young men in the docket.  

At issue is whether the Marines inflicted a "Code Red," a physical hazing ritual that’s against Marine Corps policy, upon a barracks-mate, an incident that resulted in the recipient’s death.  

“A Few Good Men” opened at the ACT on October 4. Performances scheduled for October 11 through October 13 were canceled due to Hurricane Milton. There will be one more performance on Friday, October 18 at 7:30 PM. 

The strong cast, stagecraft, and direction of the 7Mary34 Productions effort more than do justice to the source material. The pacing is taut, the acting crisp, and while the sets were simple, they were effective and represented an especially creative use of the limited space available.  

The show is presented by the ACT, in partnership with 7Mary34, rather than being a production of the Marco Theater company. The driving force behind the theater company’s journey to Marco was Charlie Blum, a board member of the Marco Island Center for the Arts, the ACT’s parent organization. The directors are Aaron Jackson and 7Mary34 Productions owner and operator Trace Talley, who’s also a member of the cast.  

A $5 discount on each ticket is available for active duty and retired veterans. Use the code “MILITARY” to receive the discount and bring a valid U.S. Government-issued military ID (active duty, active reserved, retired, or dependents) to the box office for verification.  

The Arts Center Theatre is located in Marco Town Center, 1089 N. Collier Boulevard, Unit #432. For more information about the theatre and purchasing tickets, along with the Marco Island Center for the Arts, visit marcoislandart.org or call 394-4221.