I didn’t think I'd get a ticket for Cuckoo’s nest for love nor money, but managed to on the day. Front and centre as usual and boy was it worth it. I had already hopped to see this production after the success of last years'12 Angry Men', I honestly wasn’t bothered about who the lead was going to be.  I just knew it would be a quality production and it's always fun seeing shows pre West end.

The hall had an air of expectation as the curtains rolled back and the set was revealed, fairly substantial for a fringe show, probably in preparation for it's West End run post fringe. Two entrances and exits on either side of a Glassed in Nurses station which provided a fifth entrance. Various chairs and a table. Most of the cast as inmates of the institution were in states of undress but the main action starts as a new admission is introduced.

Randal McMurphy (Christian Slater) a violent larger than life gambler who fakes psychosis to avoid the drudgery of a working gaol. Not realising that once he has been committed he is in the hospital indefinitely, possibly even longer than his initial sentence.

The ward is ruled over by the tyrannical Nurse Ratched (Frances Barber), who is a frightening blend of attributes of the worst nurses and ward sisters I've ever met.  Along with Nurse (Lucy Porter) and two male orderlies, she oversees the ward with a will of iron, seemingly taking delight in the ritual humiliation of her patients. I hated her on sight.

It seems at first that Owen O'Neill as the inmates spokesperson would oppose Randal but him and the others soon back him up against Ratshit.  Seemingly catatonic patients warm to him and he does more for the inmates in a few weeks than the hospital and medication in years.

With such a salubrious cast there was no doubt that the show would be a success.  Although the production has been dogged with difficulties, the loss of the original director due to family illness and ill health dogging the cast, Leading to a delay for the opening night. I'm sure Cuckoo will go down in Fringe legend.

Prescription for the depressed, one dose of 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest' followed by as many comedy shows as possible by; Owen O'Neil, Ian Coppinger, Dave Johns, Gavin Robertson, Phil Nichol, Brendon Dempsey, Felix Dexter, Lucy Porter, Lizzie Roper, Katherine Jakeways, Stephen K Amos, Tim Ahern and Mackenzie Crook or any other Fringe comedy show as recommended by www.one4review.com 

Fringe Programme page number,  172

Company,  Guy Masterson & Nica Burns for Theatreshare

Venue

V  3,  Assembly  Music Hall

Dates

6th  to  30th  August  2004  [not  16th]

Times

13-45  to  15-45

Comedy 2004

Music 2004

Other 2004

Theatre 2004

Musicals 2004