The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel is a play by David Rabe.
Rabe's first play in his Vietnam War trilogy that continued with Sticks and Bones and Streamers, its story is bracketed by scenes depicting the death of the everyman-like title character, who mindlessly grabs at a live hand grenade tossed into the Saigon brothel he is visiting. A born loser who is drafted into the United States Army, Hummel immediately encounters difficulties with both his sergeants and fellow recruits, none of whom trust him. As he stumbles through basic training and comes ever closer to the battlefield, he is guided by Ardell, a mysteriously ambiguous character who seemingly is an officer but serves as Hummel's conscience and a Greek chorus-like figure as well. Although injured repeatedly, Hummel is so determined to be a soldier he passes up a chance to go home, a decision that ultimately proves fatal.
Productions Under the auspices of the New York Shakespeare Festival, the play premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theater on May 19, 1971. Directed by Jeff Bleckner, the cast included William Atherton as Hummel, Albert Hall as Ardell, and Joe Fields as Sgt. Tower
The play opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on April 14, 1977 in previews, officially on April 24, 1977 and closed on September 3, 1977 after 117 performances. Directed by David Wheeler, the cast included Al Pacino as Hummel, Gustave Johnson as Ardell, and Joe Fields reprising his role as Sgt. Tower.The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, playbillvault.com, accessed May 15, 2015
Cast
Off Broadway production Actor Role William Atherton Pavlo Hummel Victoria Racimo Yen / Second Viet Cong Albert Hall Ardell Joe Fields Sgt. Tower Earl Hindman Kress Peter Cameron Parker Rovert Lehman Pierce Anthony R. Charnota Cpl. Ferrara Edward Herrmann Hinkle Frederick Coffin Mickey Sloane Shelton Mrs. Hummel Garrett Moris Jones Christal Kim Mama-san Lee Wallace Sgt. Brisbey John Benson Sgt. Wall Bob Delegall Parham Edward Cannan Captain Saunders / Captain Miller / Lieutenant Smith Steven Clarke Burns Edward Cannan Captain Saunders John Walter Davis Ryan D. Franklyn Lenthall Hendrix Hoshin Seki First Viet Cong / Farmer
Broadway production Cast Role Al Pacino Pavlo Hummel Tisa Chang Yen / Second Viet Cong Gustave Johnson Ardell Joe Fields Sgt. Tower Larry Bryggman Kress Max Wright Parker Lance Henriksen Pierce Jack Kehoe Corporal Jackson Paul Guilfoyle Hinkle Ron Hunter Mickey Andrea Masters Mrs. Sorrentino Rebecca Drake Mrs. Hummel Don Blakely Jones Anne Miyamoto Mama-san / Farmer Richard Lynch Sgt. Brisbey Sully Boyar Sgt. Wall Damien Leake Parham Cameron Mason Various Vietnamese Gary Bolling Burns / Private Grennel Brad Sullivan Captain Saunders Michael Dinelli Ryan John Aquino Hendrix Kevin Maung Gomez / First Viet Cong / Vietnamese Boy
Awards and nominations Source: Playbill Vault
Awards 1971 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Director – Jeff Bleckner 1971 Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Playwright – David Rabe 1971 Obie Award for Distinguished Direction – Jeff Bleckner 1971 Theatre World Award – William Atherton 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play – Al Pacino 1977 Theatre World Award - Joe Fields 1977 Tony Award for Best Actor in Play – Al Pacino Nominations 1977 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play – Joe Fields
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