By Dale King
Lake Worth Playhouse has taken a bold step in its decision to present One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a generally grim drama.
Based on the 1962 Ken Kesey novel that shed a cold, clinical light on the insensitive methods used to treat inmates at an insane asylum, the stage presentation adapted a year later by Dale Wasserman fell flat. Milos Forman breathed new life into the story with the 1975 film that went on to capture five top Academy Awards and boost a young Jack Nicholson’s stock on the Hollywood ticker.
That’s a tough act to follow, even 39 years later. But an exceedingly talented cast at LW Playhouse captures so well the many nuances of the inmates without subjecting them to insult on top of injury for being mentally challenged. The players take material that could easily go astray or become laughable and keep it right on track. This performance may make you uncomfortable, but it offers the audience some important views of an incarceration system gone wrong.
The powerhouse production is neither for the faint of heart nor those in search of light comedy. Cuckoo’s Nest, after all, takes place in a sad place for humans whose twitches, tics and stutters force them to hide from so-called “normal” citizens.
The hero of this story is one Randle Patrick McMurphy (Wally Valenti), a brawling, two-fisted, wise-cracking tough who is committed to a mental ward for committing a violent crime, but soon takes over. Valenti doesn’t fall into the trap of trying to out-Nicholson Nicholson. He portrays McMurphy his own way, giving him a heart and a streak of sensitivity that eventually run afoul of the “system” created by the uncaring rulers of the world known to many as “the loony bin.”
Once McMurphy gets his bearings, he realizes he must rally the other patients to challenge the dictatorial rule of Nurse Ratched (portrayed with consummate bluster by Clelia Patrizio). “Mac” promotes gambling in the ward, smuggles in booze and women and openly defies the rules at every turn. But this defiance, which begins as a sport, soon develops into a bare-knuckles struggle, an all-out war between two relentless foes: Nurse Ratched, backed by “the system,” and McMurphy, who depends only on his own indomitable will.
Cuckoo’s Nest is populated with poor folks whose needs are real, but whose spirits are painted black. They keep their sanity locked away, though McMurphy often gets through to their souls. This is particularly noticeable in Mac’s tender scenes with Chief Bromden (Daniel Eilola), an Indian traumatized by the harsh treatment of Native Americans and his own family. He recalls his mother telling him a child’s rhyme that gives this show its name: “Wire, briar, limber lock/ Three geese in a flock / One flew East/ One flew West/And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest.”
The actor behind each inmate gives his all to make this production real. That includes Brad Parker as Cheswick, Eric Camacho as Dale Harding, the patient representative; Matthew Waranius as Ruckly and Philip Thibeaux as Scanlon. Patrick Albano is outstanding as Martini, whose mental disarray is physically obvious, and Richard Iverson, as Billy Bibbitt, who is particularly adept at plumbing his character’s depth. It shows he is troubled by more than his stutter.
Patrizio is excellent as Nurse Rached. She’s assumes a tough, U.S. Marine-type demeanor that’s perfect for the role. Pat McPoland, a dermatologist in real life, portrays Dr. Spivey, the asylum medical chief who manages to fend off Rached’s fuming until he is finally sucked into the cruelty of this lockup.
Leanna Oliveira adds a hint of comic relief as Candy Starr, McMurphy’s girlfriend whose repute is fairly questionable. Samantha Marulli does double duty as both Nurse Flynn and as Sandra, Candy’s floozie friend.
Director Clayton Phillips is back at the Playhouse after working with many productions on the road. He keeps this frenetic ensemble within the boundaries of the stage.
The tech crew deserves special credit for coming up with a set that is dark and forbidding, with bursts of electrical green, blue and red lighting indicating someone is getting zapped in shock therapy, a constant fear for the inmates. Pats on the back go to scenic designer Cindi Taylor, lighting designer Chris Alberts, sound designer Marty Mets and sound engineer Taylor Sullivan.
In the end, Cuckoo’s Nest concludes with some unexpected twists that leave even the psychologically savvy with unanswered questions. Still, it’s an inspiring and thought-provoking show that’s well worth experiencing.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is playing through March 16 at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth. Call 561-586-6410 for tickets and information.