Chris Poulos

While Kiefer Sutherland is “No Humphrey Bogart”, he comes close in this contemporary revival of “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial”…the Herman Wouk play that precipitated The 1954 film. It takes accomplished actors to project Wouk’s story of what drove a warship’s subordinate officers to revolt against their captain within the confines of courtroom testimony…an easier task in the film where the Court Martial was depicted in it’s exciting climax. The play is performed in almost it’s entirety on one set (the court room) with only it’s denouement at the hotel “victory party” where an inebriated defense counsel (Lieutenant Greenwald/Jason Clarke) exposes the real perpetrator of the mutiny. I’m sure there are purists who feel that the performances of Bogart, Fred McMurray, Van Johnson and Jose Ferrer…can never be adequately replicated. To those critics I say…”Go tune into Turner Classic Movies”. As for me…I’d pay to see this performance again…on a live theater stage.