# The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel

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.

## 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