Cast

The character known as R.P. McMurphy has become an icon of American anti-heroism. Made internationally famous by the Oscar-winning 1975 film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, starring Jack Nicholson as McMurphy--in one of several of his Academy Awarded screen performances--Cuckoo's Nest began as a novel by counter-culture author Ken Kesey. In 1963, a year subsequent to the book's publication, Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation premiered on Broadway, with Kirk Douglas assaying the role of McMurphy.

Since then, Cuckoo's Nest has had two big-time Broadway revivals, an off-Broadway staging, and it has become a production staple in small theaters across the land. Now, So Cal audiences have the opportunity to see a fine mounting of this manic, melancholy theatrical masterwork at Fullerton's Maverick Theater, through February 21.

It's a simple story of a thirty-something rough and roguish inmate (McMurphy, embodied with command and charisma by Brennan Thomas), who is transferred from a prison farm to a mental institution for an open-ended observation and evaluation period. There he encounters an assortment of so-called psycho-ceramics (read crackpots), sadistic attendants, and control freaks (exemplified by Head Nurse Ratched, chillingly incarnated by Julie Patzer). Though there are a multitude of hilarious moments in Cuckoo's Nest, Director Ryan White does not distort the comedy so that we lose track of the seriousness of the situation or the powerful impact of the tragedies that lie in store and define the plotline of Cuckoo's Nest. What's more, White's sterile scenic design, with its drab green interiors and fluorescent-like lighting (by Jim Book) evokes the ennui and horror we've come to associate with depersonalized institutionalization.

Moreover, Cuckoo's Nest offers a lineup of characters that are wholly fulfilled by this canny cast of actors. Though Thomas and Patzer are completely committed (no pun intended) to their roles as protagonist and antagonist, respectively, there are 13 other performers here who contribute both heart and soul to the proceedings.

As Chief Bromden, the mute American Indian, Enrique Munoz is marvelously and movingly emotional. Stan Morrow as Dale Harding is as natural as the uptight neighbor next door. But also, Scott Keister as the bomb-obsessed Frank Scanlon, Drew Boudreau as flighty Anthony Martini and Ryan Coon as brooding Charles Cheswick are all sadly believable as characters who no longer believe in themselves.

Still, it is David Chorely as mama's boy Billy Bibbit who brought tears to this critic's eyes. His tirades and emotional meltdowns allow us to witness psychological upheaval up close and personal. It is an unrelenting, unforgettable portrayal.

From Thomas's McMurphy to Danesh Noshirvan and Steve Jones's ward aides to Kelsie Blackwell and Lindsay Sundman's turns as unlikely party girls, on to Larry Creagan's little jewel of a performance as Dr. Spivey and Wayne Munchel's silent but haunting presence as a lobotomized patient--this Maverick Theater production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a near perfect ensemble. In fact, you'd be crazy to miss this show.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest continues through February 21 at the Maverick Theater--110 East Walnut Avenue, Fullerton. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, with a matinee at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For reservations, dial (714) 526 - 7070. For more information and online ticketing, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.mavericktheater.com" www.mavericktheater.com.