A FEW GOOD MEMORIES

Last Thursday, instead of attending class, learning about Writing from Life, I was sitting in a theater in Fort Worth, Texas, watching a limited-run production of “A Few Good Men.” I don’t particularly like Texas, but I had a chance to see something (that could possibly be) amazing. A local Fort Worth theater was presenting the play featuring two television and film actors with North Texas roots in the roles of LTJG Daniel Kaffee and Lt Col Nathan Jessup.

Lou Diamond Phillips, who’s been doing a lot of theater in the past few years, was set to play Lt Col Jessup, the role made famous by Jack Nicholson in the movie. But the draw for me was a young actor I’d never heard of until last year. In watching him for the past two seasons on the cult television show “Supernatural,” he’d flawlessly performed everything they’d thrown at him: angst, action, horror, humor, and intense drama. In the past few months, I’d started calling him the most underrated actor in Hollywood.

Jensen Ackles had agreed to play the role of LTJG Daniel Kaffee, the show’s protagonist (or, in layman’s terms “the Tom Cruise role”) during his summer hiatus. However, he hadn’t been on stage in 11 years, and never as a professional actor.

Initially I’d balked at the idea going. It seemed frivolous. Besides, I don’t like to travel and I don’t like to fly. I was afraid I’d spend all this money for play and airline tickets, not to mention hotel and car rental, and then chicken out at the last minute. (I have done this before.) So, common sense and restraint ruled, and I made the rational decision to pass.

But, as time wore on and the date of the play approached, I found I had a knot in my stomach that just would not go away. How could I pass on this once in a lifetime chance to see an actor I admire perform not only in person, but in the uniform I wore for over eight years? So, the night before the play opened, I went online, bought tickets for two nights, created an Expedia account to make (not all that) cheap plane, car and hotel reservations, and dug through my closet to find something nice to wear.

This was crazy! While I’m impulsive with some things, flying is not one of them. But the trip was definitely worth the effort. And the play was superb.

There were a few minor flaws. One of them was the fight I had with the GPS. After so many family members had sung its praises, I decided to rent one with the car. And I still managed to get lost — numerous times. In the end, though, I actually needed the thing because the map the car rental agency gave me was a piece of junk. One side was a map of the state of Texas (I’m certainly not going to find my hotel or the theater with that!), and the other was an overview of the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area, showing little more than interstates and state highways. Once I figured out how to use it, and programmed it correctly, the GPS did help me find my hotel. Still, I don’t plan to buy on in the near future.

Did I mention the play was superb? I was a bit disappointed with my seat for my first night’s performance. The stage protruded out into the audience, sort of like one-half of a theater-in-the-round. I was reasonably close to the stage, but far on the left side. For the first act, much of the action took place at the front of the stage, with the actors’ backs towards me. But even when I couldn’t see their faces, I could tell by the actors’ sharp and quick banter and audience’s reactions that the performances were entertaining, and the play had a definite enthusiasm.

The second act was much kinder to me. For the courtroom scenes, the defense table was across the stage on an angle facing my side. And when LTJG Kaffee was examining the witnesses, Jensen Ackles commanded the stage. It was hard to believe this was his professional stage debut. He was so controlled and confident, it was like second nature to him. There was one point, near the famous “You can’t handle the truth,” scene, where he stretched out his arm and pointed to the witness stand. I was in the perfect spot to get the full impact of the scene. His stance, his body language, his energy and conviction were sheer drama; and it nearly stopped my heart.

My seats for the second night were center stage, but further back. I always enjoy watching a play from different sections. It often gives a new perspective on the play. In this case, several scenes in the first act become more memorable. I caught small, humorous actions I’d missed the first time. And because I was able to see actual facial expressions to go along with the delightful dialogue, I was able to enjoy the full impact of the performers’ comedic timing.

The play received a standing ovation both nights I was there. (In fact, I believe all the performances received standing ovations.) What made these ovations particularly special was that after the leads had taken their bows, they motioned to the audience for silence. Jensen Ackles and Lou Diamond Phillips then noted that Wednesday, June 6th had been the anniversary of D-Day. They took a moment to thank all the Service members, the veterans and their families; and then the cast joined in with the applause.

I was touched, and I smiled at a coincidence only I knew about. You see, the handbag I’d decided to carry was a small clutch that goes with the Navy’s Mess Dress uniform. It’s not particularly attractive, but it seemed fitting, and a little humorous, that I carry it to a play about Navy officers. But the real delight for me was that when I opened the handbag, I’d found my small National Defense Service Medal inside. I don’t remember putting it in there, and I have no idea why I did so. Whatever the reason, I felt an enormous sense of pride.

So, what have I learned? Well, I’ve learned that Texas isn’t as bad a place as I thought it would be. The people I met were extraordinarily friendly and gracious; and the drivers were actually sane, even if the vehicle of choice is the gigantic pick-up truck.

And, best of all, Jensen Ackles really does deserve the moniker I’ve given him of “the most underrated actor in Hollywood.” To be able to take on such a difficult, high-energy, and well-known role and make it his own (all with no prior professional stage experience), is the mark of a truly gifted performer. Interestingly, I find myself wanting to rewatch to movie to catch the few little details I missed (you just can’t TiVo live theater); and yet I’m hesitant to do so because I don’t want the movie to override my memory of the play; or for Tom Cruise’s Kaffee to erase Jensen Ackles’ stellar performance from my mind.