A strong male cast dominated the stage at the Butler Little Theatre for the 77th season opener, “Biloxi Blues,” a dramatic comedy, running through Oct. 7.

Cody Nagle reprises his role as Eugene from “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” which he played in BLT's 2015 production.

For this second installment of the Neil Simon trilogy, we find Eugene on his way to basic training with a band of unique characters utterly unprepared for life in the army.

It's hard to tell where Nagle stops and Eugene begins. He's very compelling in the role of would-be writer and budding adult male. He brings the same struggles with sex, family and faith to “Biloxi.”

Nagle's delivery was spot on and his wisecracks received good traction. His interactions with the other characters was delightful.

Josh Donovan turned in a powerful portrayal of Arnold Epstein, an intellectual who did not care for the Army.

This character's combination of strong will and weak stomach make him the butt of several jokes. His principles and unnerving gaze create ripples with his sergeant.

Donovan's role requires a great deal of emotion which he capably delivers both silently and most dramatically during his description of humiliation at the hands of his fellow soldiers. His defiance and his dignity win his bunkmates and the audience over.

His sergeant is another story.

Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey, the drill sergeant, is played by Donald Shearer.

Every inch the part, Shearer was easy to dislike. His tone and gruff manner were resolute and diabolical and often steeped in sarcasm.

Toomey describes himself as “the cruelest, craziest, most sadistic son of a bitch you ever saw.” Far from the Jimmy Stewart type of leader the boys had anticipated.

Vicissitudes cause the relationship to change between the sergeant and his platoon, forcing Epstein to make an emotional decision with a dramatic outcome.

Others in the band of soldiers offered up some solid performances: Joseph Wykowski (John Carlson), a tough, loud-mouthed anti-Semite; Roy Selridge (Adam Pawlowicz), a ditzy hick; and Don Carney (Grant Allen Clark), a crooner and dreamer. Montana Simpson played James Hennesey, a cook and part of their company.

Carlson's insensitivity and callousness gave credence to the role of the brash Wykowski. Clark came into his own during the scene where he was confronted by his lack of decision making ability, and Pawlowicz showed his comedic chops during the scene where the boys were visiting the town's brothel.

The two female supporting roles of Rowena and Daisy Hannigan played by Amy Cannard and Allison Torres where charming.

Cannard played a warm sympathetic prostitute lady, eager to make dreams come true in a businesslike fashion, while Torres cornered the market on the school girl who would win the Eugene's heart.

Director Bob Craig did a commendable job leading the cast with a smooth but crisp pace. The show is well-cast and well-executed from start to finish. The attention to detail in the conflict climax between Epstein and the sergeant made that scene dynamic and hard to forget.

From sets to uniforms and all the emotions in between, “Biloxi Blues” was worth the time.

Mature language and themes might discourage the under 17 audience.

WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “Biloxi Blues” by Neil SimonWHEN: Through Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: One Howard St.TICKETS: $13, reserve by calling 724-287-6781INFO: bltgroup.org