One man's play about the Medal of Honor transcends politics

The play is "Beyond Glory," written and performed by Stephen Lang at the Roundabout Theater in New York. In barest outline, Mr. Lang, who originated the role of the accused Marine colonel in the Broadway production of "A Few Good Men," brings to life eight recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Without interruption for 80 minutes, Mr. Lang recreates eight different men, who relate the hellish events that earned them the Medal of Honor. As described recently by Journal theater critic Terry Teachout, this is "acting of the highest imaginable quality, a performance that will sear its way into your mind and linger there forever after." An understatement.

After seeing "Beyond Glory" the first time a month ago, curiosity sent me to the Web to learn more. New York theatergoers normally would expect to wait 'til Manhattan turned red for a play about the Medal of Honor. And as always, you're waiting for the inevitable footlight political lecture. Never came. Stephen Lang plays it straight. No "message." In a conversation about the play last weekend, Mr. Lang said this play's about "humility."