The world premiere of Mutiny at Port Chicago at the Ruskin Group Theatre is a lopsided courtroom drama hybrid that features some very fine performances. Playwright Paul Leaf directs the production himself and draws upon some of the Ruskin Group’s fine company of actors to bring the story of a war-time tragedy and its aftermath to life.

Leaf tells the story of the Port Chicago 50, a handful of black sailors who were convicted of mutiny for their refusal to work in unsafe conditions following a massive explosion that claimed the lives of nearly 400 of their fellow enlisted men. The play highlights the Navy’s racist war-time policies which put these men in menial and dangerous duties without proper training and safety precautions. The plot follows Petty Officer Ed Little (a character presumably based on SFC Joseph Small, the man at the center of the famous court-martial and the alleged ringleader of the strike) and his mistreatment at the hands of a prejudiced Naval command and military legal system. The first and second acts of the play are drastically different in their storytelling style and composition, the first being told through heavy handed narration by Little and others and a long series of very short scenes ending in blackouts. The performances by the sailors are genuine and they manage to make some of the unimaginative dialogue sound down home and charming.

The second act is a much more compelling and well composed court-room drama that reprises many of the facts and prejudices shown in the first act, but this time through testimony and prosecutorial grandstanding. In this latter half, Leaf balances the Navy’s arguments and the injustice shown to the guiltless sailors more deftly, even if on occasion it closely resembles memorable moments of Sorkin’s A Few Good Men, rather good company to keep for any playwright. The collusion between the prosecution and judge is unsubtle, and the outcome is as expected, but the performances transcend the commonplace action and bring a gripping tone.

J Teddy Garces is charismatic as the primary narrator and accused Edward Little. He wanders into yelling at moments, but he gives weight and effortless dignity to the horrid situation he and his fellow seamen face. Also notable, especially in their tesimonies, are Durant Fowler as Seaman Summerville and Eric Bivens-Bush as the soft spoken and heartbreaking Seaman Long John.

Written and Directed by Paul Leaf, Mutiny at Port Chicago features J. Teddy Garces, Maury Sterling, Josh Drennen, Cris DAnnunzio, and Eric Bivens Bush. Set Design is by Christina Silvoso and the play is produced by Mike Myers and Dana Lynn Bennett.

Mutiny at Port Chicago opened Friday, July 10th and runs through August 15, 2009.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm at Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405.

Tickets are $20 ($15 for students, seniors, and guild members) and can be purchased in advance by calling (310) 397-3244. Free parking at the theater.