Review: NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS at Hale Centre Theatre

The Hale Centre Theatre production of NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS could just have easily been called NO TIME FOR SITCOMS.

It's is like watching an old episode of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (Griffith played Stockdale on stage and screen) and then changing the channel to hear Dr. McCoy on STAR TREK say, "He's dead, Jim."

This old chesnut by Ira Levin (based on a novel by USAF vet Mac Hyman) is about good ole boy Will Stockdale (Josh Hunt) who gets drafted during the Cold War.

Hale has a few redeeming actor-factors...Erin Mitchell as Stockdale's barracks buddy Ben Whitledge, Tom Endicott's portrayal of Pa Stockdale (photo below) and General Bush (photo above)...but the lead and 10 other actors haven't cemented their roles just yet.

Given more time (the show runs through May 13), faster pacing from the director and greater attention to military detail (some hair was too long, a captain's tie was loosened), this production of NTFS might actually fly, fight and win.