A scene from ‘The Trail of Donna Caine’ playing at George Street Playhouse – Photo credit T. Charles Erickson
Review The Trial of Donna Caine
The George Street Playhouse opened their 2018-19 season last week with the world premiere of The Trial of Donna Caine. There was a full house to see the play written by Walter Anderson noted for serving as the editor-in-chief of Parade magazine for 20 years and then being named Chairman and CEO of Parade Publications. David Saint, Artistic Director for George Street Playhouse, addressed the crowd before the play started. He said that this is a fast-moving play and it certainly is. For those who enjoy shows that entail either figuring out who did it or what caused it, this play is for you. You pick up clues along the way but there is a very surprising twist to the events.
The play is inspired on real-life events surrounding the so-called “Ribbon Creek Incident.” This incident occurred during a 1956 training mishap that resulted in the drowning deaths of six US Marine Corps recruits. The Trial of Donna Caine uses the incident as a basic story but it incorporating concerns with allowing females to now fight in combat and what it does for basic training platoons. Also, there are implications that new technology brings with it that are integral to the plot. These inclusions allow the 1956 incident to be totally up to date with what is happening in 2018 and probably for some years ahead.
The story centers on Donna Caine, a tough female Marine who is a Staff Sergeant who is devoted to her role as a drill instructor. Not only is she tough, but she is regarded as one of the best. Caine is the picture of a perfect Marine in her stance and presentation as well as her dedication to the Marines. In an attempt to provide an added dimension to the training, Caine brings her platoon out on a march through a section of land that is subject to various water levels due to tidal changes. Although she is certain she had checked the tide times correctly, the water level is so high that five in her charge end up dying on the march.
As charges are pressed against her, a high powered and well known activist lawyer is called upon to represent her. Vincent Stone is uncertain of why he is being asked to represent someone in the military. He asks his associate, Emily Ginsberg, to go to meet with Sergeant Caine. Caine is very defensive at this meeting and states that she is willing to accept full blame and punishment for what happened. Ginsberg is not as certain and she sets out to do more discovery. As she does and as the trial begins, some very surprising issues come out. Some of these point to a set up and the unraveling of them is what gives this play a lot of spark and energy.
There is not a slow moment in this show. Every piece of it is filled with character development and incidents that all lead to a surprising conclusion. The playwright, Mr. Anderson, does a marvelous job writing dialog that fits his characters very well. In doing so, they become immediately believable and they draw the attention and in some cases the angst of the viewers.
David Saint directs The Trial of Donna Caine and in doing so, he employs a unique design to the set which permits scenery to change instantly to videos. The inclusion of videos brings the story to a new level. When not used as videos, the pictures are background scenery. Applause go to James Youmans for his work on the Scenic and Media Design.
The cast includes John Bolger (Roy Gill), Julia Brothers (Lt. Colonel Sandra Eden), Michael Cullen (Sergeant Major Clayton Williams), and Kally Duling (Private First Class Ellen Colessio). Also in the cast are Peter Frechette (Vincent Stone), Ryan George (Gunnery Sergeant Jacob Jasper Walker), Margarita Levieva (Emily Zola Ginsberg), Melissa Maxwell (Judge Easton), and Flor De Liz Perez (Staff Sergeant Donna Caine).
This play runs until Nov. 11, 2018 which is Veteran’s Day.
Additional Information About The Trial of Donna Caine:
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours including one 15-minute intermission
Location: George Street Playhouse’s temporary home at 103 College Farm Road in New Brunswick, NJ.
Performances: Now through Nov. 11, 2018.
Contact for Info and Tickets: Go to the George Street Playhouse website at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org, or call the box office at 732-246-7717.
Suggested Audience: Serious playgoers especially those who enjoy suspenseful shows and those who like to figure out what’s really behind what is being seen as the action.