In recent years, Malibu Stage Company has mounted some excellent productions, notably Oren Safdie’s “West Bank, U.K.” and “Rabbit Hole,” directed by Graeme Clifford. Now Clifford returns with “A Soldier’s Play,” and Charles Fuller’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning military drama continues the Stage Company’s solid streak.
The inspiration for the 1987 movie “A Soldier’s Story,” “A Soldier’s Play” is set in World War II against a backdrop of hypocrisy at home as the U.S. fought for American ideals overseas. The story centers on the homicide of a black officer, Sgt. Vernon Waters (Obba Babatunde), at the U.S. Army base Fort Neal, and the racial tensions that fester as an African-American Army officer, Capt. Richard Davenport (Oscar Best), arrives to investigate the killing. Davenport tries to lead an honest investigation, piecing together the murder mystery while fending off the racism of the ruling Caucasian officers; men such as Capt. Taylor (Nick Stabile), who scoffs at the idea of Davenport handling the case and wants two white suspects, Lt. Byrd (Michael Fuller) and Capt. Wilcox (Kendrick Thompson), indicted for expediency’s sake. The majority of the story involves Davenport interviewing members of Waters’ all-black squadron–Privates Cobb (Cecil Burroughs), Peterson (Ray Stoney), Wilkie (Roderick MCarthy), Henson (James Jolly), Smalls (Ryan Sands), Memphis (Ary Katz) and Cpl. Ellis (Douglas Dennard). In “Rashomon” fashion, we get each soldier’s remembrance of Waters and that fateful night in flashback. We learn that the headstrong Waters was not well liked among his subordinates.
“He can be two people sometimes, sir,” Wilkie recalls of Waters. “Warm sometimes, ice the next.”
Davenport learns that Waters had it out for some of his men, particularly the cocky, outspoken Peterson and the blues-singing Memphis, whom the sergeant deemed an embarrassing caricature. When Waters (in a flashback) derides Peterson and Memphis for being from the South, Peterson shoots back, “And where are you from? England?”
“You’re a creep, Waters,” Wilkie tells him, flat-out.
Waters later blames Memphis for shooting a white officer, and the accusation yields disastrous results.
The actors portraying the rank-and-file soldiers effectively convey the humor and the camaraderie amongst the characters. Burroughs, MCarthy, Sands, Stoney, Jolly and Dennard are all in fine form while the talented Katz gets to exercise additional skills playing guitar and singing “It’s a Low Down Dirty Shame.”
Best, as the cool-headed and honorable Davenport, exudes a charismatic presence and effectively shepherds the story.
The power of the proceedings is highlighted by a commanding performance from Babatunde as Sgt. Waters. Reportedly, Clifford wanted Babatunde to play Waters after directing the seasoned actor and Matthew Modine in the 2002 Black Panther drama “Redeemer” for cable.
Babatunde owns the role, and “Soldier’s Play” comes alive the moment he steps onstage. His performance as the blustery sergeant–a man of authority caught between the cruelty of his white superiors and the suffering esteem of his men, which the Army has deemed not good enough to send into battle in the European theater–will resonate long after curtain call.
Produced by Clifford with Diane Peterson and Richard Johnson, this version of “A Soldier’s Play” truly benefits from Fuller’s timeless writing. The events may be set in 1944, but the dialogue is not bogged down by too many dated references. Segregation aside, this story feels fresh and contemporary, and, despite its heavy subtext, Fuller blends mirth into his drama via the barracks banter.
“You haven’t had a woman since a woman had you,” Pvt. Henson teases another soldier.
Clifford’s directing and Richard Reynolds’ lighting deftly alternate the narrative between present day and flashbacks. Reynolds matches Clifford’s direct storytelling with his single Army-barracks set. Danielle Horn created the wardrobe, Bruce Greenspan provided the sound design and John Zambetti supervised the music.
The takeaway here is that this is a solid production of “A Soldier’s Play” with a standout performance by Babatunde that should not be missed.
“A Soldier’s Play” continues through Oct. 17. Tickets can be obtained by calling 310.589.1998.