The THEATREXP’s  / ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Kesey said, ‘Laugh at the bad.’

By Christina Oxenberg

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST is a twist on what it means to be twisted. From the government with the power over the individual, to the individual with power over his fellow man, be it abused or well used, twisted power corrupts absolutely. Here a middle-aged man is convicted of a crime and to avoid prison has himself declared insane and admitted to a mental institution. Needless to say things are not so cushy as he’d expected. Written as a book by Ken Kesey and later adapted for the theater by Dale Wasserman, the two created a masterpiece, a close exploration of psychosis. The play was produced on Broadway with Kirk Douglas and Danny DeVito and Kesey not only saw it but approved of it. In the 1970s the story became one of the most iconic movies we have, Douglas was replaced with Jack Nicholson, DeVito was kept on and the movie was a cult flick before it hit the screens. Kesey refused to see it. Staging this work is yet another sensation for Key West’s Red Barn Theater, which as usual brings us the best in entertainment every season.

What makes ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST such a challenge to translate to the stage is perhaps the notoriety of the movie version with Nicholson arguably at his most searingly memorable. Director Patrick New artfully restores this rumination to the multi layered questioning of human complexity and less a showcase for Jack Nicholson.

The cast is vast and everyone plays their role with passion. Nurse Ratched is finely presented by Melody G. Moore and Bob Bowersox engages with his charming rendition of crazy. 

Key west local thespian Ross Pipkin plays the role of Randall Patrick McMurphy with heart and soul. His charisma is palpable and likable.

We come to know the vast cast as McMurphy tries, one by one, to draw them out of private hells and into their ‘safe space’.

Thanks to McMurphy’s exuberance we see the other characters struggles and wins. In the case of a native American quite literarily going from insert mute to murderer. He kills his teacher in some parable of yin and yang. McMurphy incites an uprising to improve the lot of the inmates and his vigor inspires others. Will he get out? Will anyone?

This production is poignant and relevant and, at times, surprisingly funny. As Kesey said, life would be unbearable unless you can laugh at the bad.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST is at The Red Barn Theater, 319 Duval St. from July 5 -23. 15 minute intermission. Seating is limited, please book early. Tickets available on line at http://www.redbarntheatre.com or by calling 305.296.9911

(Christina Oxenberg is a Key West resident and author of Royal Blue published by Simon & Schuster & Dynasty published by Laguna and is a regular contributor to Konk Life & www.HuffingtonPost.com)

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