This exquisitely staged, written, and acted production of John Patrick
Shanley's Defiance is most decidedly a feather in the Pasadena Playhouse's
cap.

Defiance resembles Shanley's award-winning Doubt in examining the roles
played by members of a hierarchy, in this case the military. Though set in the
Vietnam War era, at a time when disillusionment with the war's "noble" goals
had infiltrated the military itself, the current mess we find ourselves in in Iraq
keeps Defiance as current as today's headlines.

Rather than give anything away of the plot, I will simply say that the play
deals thought-provokingly with issues of race, obedience, honor, fidelity, faith,
and betrayal. It's gripping drama which provides much food for post-play
discussion.

The set design by John Iacovelli complimented by Austin Switser's video
design is nothing short of spectacular. And the performances are all grade A.
Jordan Baker is a down-to-earth standout as a military wife torn between two
loves, for her by-the-rules Colonel husband and for her draft protesting son
who's decided to opt for a life in Canada. Baker has palpable chemistry with
her real-life husband Kevin Kilner as Colonel Littlefield. Kilner and Robert
Manning, Jr., as Captain King, have tough roles in that they must maintain
military bearing at all times and yet reveal emotions churning under the
surface. Both do fine jobs. Joel Polis has the somewhat thankless role of
Gunney, who opens the show and then promptly disappears, but he is very
good. Leo Marks has the good fortune of playing Defiance's most colorful role,
the all-too-sure-of-himself Chaplain White, and he manages to make White
both smarmy and yet occasionally sympathetic.

For me, however, THE standout performance is given by a young actor
named Dennis Flanagan, who has probably about five minutes of stage time
but makes an indelible impression of grief and torment in the role of Private
Davis, whose revelations lead to the play's powerful final moments. Like Judi
Dench in Shakespeare in Love and Beatrice Straight in Network (who won
Oscars with minimal screen time), Flanagan gives a performance that should
be remembered during awards season.

Once again, the Pasadena Playhouse has proven itself at the forefront of L.A.
Theater and gives Broadway houses a run for their money--at much lower
ticket prices!
JANUARY 24, 2007, PASADENA PLAYHOUSE, PASADENA

--Steven Stanley