AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - The Garrick Playhouse, Altrincham.

'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' is, according to the play's director, Joseph Meighan, his favourite play. I have to confess, I have never seen the play, and so was more than intrigued by Meighan's programme commentary. Of course I have seen the film starring Jack Nicholson - who hasn't? - but that was so long ago that much of the play's storyline came as a surprise. It's not an easy or indeed comfortable watch; it isn't meant to be, as the play is set at a time when our understanding and treatment of mental illness was, to say the least, Drachonian. 

I've said it before, and I'll undoubtedly say it again; the standard of performance and production values at Altrincham's Garrick Theatre, and the expertise they bring to their plays is of a higher standard than many professional productions I have seen over the years. And this play requires a large cast of sensitive and talented actors / actresses, which they found and, first-night nerves notwithstanding, didn't just pull it out of the bag.... there wasn't even a bag there in the first place!

If you don't already know, the story is set in 1950's America, in a Psychiatric Institution. The mores and norms of the day being regular punishments, group "therapy" meetings, abuse from the staff and the system, too much medication, and the occasional trip to the the electro-convulsive therapy unit. Enter McMurphy, a convict who escaped the harsh jail by faking insanity sent here for evaluation, believing that it will be a less harsh envirnoment for his term of 5 months, not realising what he was getting himself into. His clashes with Nurse Ratched and his rebellious nature upsets the dynamic of the whole unit, and... well, telling more would be to spoil it - even if you do already know the play.

Everything about this production was excellent. A practicle and realistic single set, decorated with authentic-looking props and furniture; a creative but not overmuch lighting plot helped to bring further emotion and realism to the story;whilst  the direction (Meighan) was neither overfussy nor over melodramatic, bringing out the pathos and the comedy of the script with skill using fine paint brushes adding layers rather than daubing the whole with a pasting brush.

The novel tells the story from the perspective of Chief Bromden, and the play does start this way too, with voice-overs of his thoughts. Matthew Spilsbury played this role with a quietitude rarely seen on stage, and his presence reminded me in many ways of Clarke Duncan's portrayal of John Coffey in the film, 'The Green Mile'. The other inmates of the asylum all had their recognisable quirks and behaviours and brought realism to characters which could so easily have become caricatures or monodimensional. Happily, Billy Bibbit's (Charlie Gallagher) youth with a stammer, Ruckley's (Marcel Kalisz) God-complex, and Martini's (Chis Shoop-Worrall) hallucinations were all totally convincing. As indeed were the sadistic taunting antics of the three Aides (Patrick O'Brien, Connor Ryan, and Rory Cowen). Madeleine Healey played the head nurse Ratched, with unerring righteousness, and again totally believable. 

Adding the yang to all of these yings were the well-meaning Doctor Spivey (Tom Broughton), the ineffectual junior nurse Flinn (Bronte James), and a couple of good-time prostitutes brought in by McMurphy for a party; (Katie Richardson and Emma Hill).

I've left the protagonist (Randle McCready) until last. I have seen Joseph Morgan in many productions over the years, performing for MYT, MMY, and of course The Garrick, and I have also seen him grow as an actor too. It has been an interesting journey, but one which I have enjoyed being a very small part of. This evening was his crowning glory. A very intelligent and sympathetic portrayal of an incredibly complex and difficult character; wisely not trying to emulate Jack Nicholson in any way, finding his own way through the text and delivering a believable, flawed, relatable human being. I shed a quiet tear at the end.

'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' is on until Saturday at The Garrick in Altrincham, and it comes extremely highly recommended.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

On - 7.2.22