Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan wrote their 1948 play Mister Roberts based on Heggen's 1946 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, earning a Tony Award for Henry Fonda in the title role, which he then went on to play in the 1955 film.
Before the performance begins at The Millbrook Community Players' theatre, a patriotic slide-show picturing many of the cast and their family members who had served in the military, delivers an excellent simple tribute.
Set towards the end of World War II, it recounts the story of Lt. (JG) Roberts [Roger Humber] as he attempts to transfer from a cargo ship in the Pacific to a destroyer where he is eager to participate in the war's action. Thwarted by a mean-spirited Captain [Steve Phillips], consoled and advised by Doc [Tim Griggs], and bothered by a work-avoiding self-professed "ladies man" Ensign Pulver [Nate Greenawalt], the two acts follow the various escapades of these men and the ship's crew in trying to get the transfer for Mister Roberts, to achieve a balance from the tedium of their jobs, to show the assorted dreams of the men, and recognize that friendships and camaraderie depend on trust.
Directors John Collier and Rae Ann Collier have a mixed-bag of talents at their disposal. [Side Bar: It must be said that most of the cast play characters much younger than themselves, whether by design or by circumstance. That being said, and once the audience buys into it, we take it as a "given" in this production and then take it on its merits.] And, it's a pretty solid show. We take them at their word.
Mr. Phillips is a gruff Captain whose word is law, and who is more concerned with his own reputation in reaching his advancement, a symbol of which is a prized palm tree award that he keeps on display and under guard. -- Mr. Griggs is a compassionate and settled Doc who is bound both by military and medical tradition while supporting Mister Roberts at every turn of events. -- Mr. Greenawalt is a likable and comical foil to the others, who yearns for approval, and ultimately gets the courage to stand up for the men on-board.
Mr. Humber's depiction of Mister Roberts shows the frustrations of a man who wants to "do his bit" in battle, but who is relegated to a support vessel that never sees action. The confrontations between him and Mr. Phillips is the center of the play's themes, pitting two men with opposing views against one another, showing how authority can force submission by the Captain granting shore leave to the men only if Mister Roberts acquiesces to towing the line. Misunderstandings abound at Mister Roberts' change of behavior towards the men. Nicely done.
As the only female character, Lt. Ann Girard [Sam Crevensten] has been ogled by the men from afar -- she's the only woman they've seen in a long time, and they fantasize about her and the other nurses they've been spying on -- and when Pulver brings her aboard, she soon realizes what's been going on, and leaves.
When the crew overhear what changed Mister Roberts, they take it on themselves to rectify his condition. He gets the transfer, but dies in action, and the men grieve, and Pulver gets his nerve to stand up to the Captain.
