McMurphy is a charming, devil-may-care rogue who contrives to serve a short sentence in an airy mental institution rather than work in a prison.He takes over the yard, and he accomplishes what the medical profession has been unable to do for twelve years - a presumed deaf and dumb man talks and others move out of introversion. He stages a revolt and makes demands on behalf of the patients. This, he suddenly learns, is a mistake. His charm does not work on the head nurse, however, but only aggravates her antagonism towards him.
Gord and I enjoy live theatre and this Single Horizons event was a good opportunity to check out a theatre we'd never been to (Stage Centre Production at the Fairview Mall Library Theatre). It's a small theatre that seats 260 people. All are great seats because the seats are elevated above the stage.
The play was good. Having seen the movie, I was curious to see how it would be done as a play. Most of the actors were good, especially the guys playing the patients. The actor playing the doctor, though, wasn't very good.
LeeAnn (owner of Single Horizons), me and Margaret
I've never been to that theatre! I should totally check it, huh! Thanks for the review! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is off-topic, but interesting. When Ken Kesey wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, he was thinking of the Oregon State Mental Hospital, which is a few blocks from where I live. The movie was filmed there.
ReplyDeleteThe Oregonian recently did a multipart report (with great photos) on the hospital, and it's really shocking. The hospital has deteriorated considerably since the movie was shot 30 years ago, and it wasn't in very good shape back then. It's still in use, with more than 100 patients.
Nice to have a small "live" theatre right there in your community...I have seen this play staged a couple of times over the years...It is a difficult play to do, I think, because you really need exceptionally talented actors to due those parts justice...It sounds like on the whole this was a good cast, except....well, the doctor.
ReplyDeleteHi, just wanted to say thanks for the comment love. Obviously I've had very little success with the de-lurking prompt. Oh well. Always nice to meet someone new though!
ReplyDeleteI like live theater too. It looks like you had a great time. I'm hoping to take my daughter next year to the ballet in TO.
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