JLT stages final show of their 76th season
May 25, 2016


Randle Patrick McMurphy (Joel Moore) explains to Dr. Spivey (Richard Roberts) how he contrived to serve a short stay in a mental institution as his scam to avoid prison time and hard labor. He is surrounded by two patients, L-R, William "Billy" Bibbit, a stutterer (Alex Chesney) and Frank Scanlon (Robert Myers), known in the place as the "bombmaker." In the background is Nurse Rached (Marilyn Marshall-Miller) who isn't happy with McMurphy's attitude from the start. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is Joplin Little Theatre's latest production.

The setting, designed by director Lisa Wood, and lighting, managed by Kyle Newby, are right on for Joplin Little's Theatre's newest production. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the play by Dale Wasserman based on a novel by Ken Kesey requires the reproduction of a day room in a ward of a state mental hospital and is complete with dull light green walls, padded columns, stark furnishings and an enclosure for the head nurse (Klaire Hardy) to stand behind issuing orders using a microphone. The lighting shifts along with the tenor of the play, eventually picking up firey tones symbolizing the horror of the concluding scenes.

The play produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. contains strong language and a ribald, albeit toned down, sex romp. It is not for the faint of heart. The inevitable conclusion is both exciting and touching.


"So you see my friend, it is somewhat as you stated: man has but one truly effective weapon against the juggernaut of modern matriarchy, but it certainly is not laughter. One weapon, and with every passing year in this hip, motivationally researched society, more and more people are discovering how to render that weapon useless and conquer those who have hitherto been conquerors. . . ." --Author Ken Kessey


The audience is soon introduced to Randle P. McMurphy (Joel Moore) who with charm and bluster thinks he can get away with a short stay in a mental institution instead of serving time in prison. He learns soon enough that this idea is a mistake, especially after thinking he can get the best of head nurse Rached (Marilyn Marshall-Miller), a single minded, somewhat mean spirited woman, who appears to keep her power over her charges by reinforcing their inadequacies. And she has ultimate control right to the end.

What McMurphy does achieve if only temporary is what the medical profession has been unable to do for all the years the patients were under its care. Talking their language he gets the patients to stage a revolt in order to watch a World Series game on TV and participate in a raucous midnight party with liquor supplied by aide Turkle (Clint Newby) and temptation provided by Candy Starr (Carrie Wilkinson) and Sandy (second role for Hardy).

McMurphy's greatest achievement, perhaps, is in making a presumed deaf and dumb Indian talk. The audience knows better as Chief Bromden (Jon Matson), pictured at left, performs one soliloquy after another, talking to his deceased father about the horrors of life in the hospital. It is here that the novelist and playwright also are able to comment on how the treatment of Indians by the establishment led to alcoholism and mental anguish. Other symbolism is woven throughout the play.




The patients provide ample opportunity for character acting. Dale Harding (David O'Neil) has sexual inadequacies, William "Billy" Bibbit (Alex Chesney) is a stutterer with apparently an overbearing mother, Charles Atkins Cheswick II (Ricardo Field) is forever mouthing off, Frank Scanlon (Robert Myers) thinks he is making a bomb, Anthony Martini (Zach Bradley) can't keep his feet still and Ruckly (Thomas Vernon), forever silent, in one scene with outstretched arms appears crucified. Completing the cast are aides Warren (Andrew Chesney) and Williams (William Bell) who are tasked to keep the patients in line. (Wood issued a call for extras who didn't participate in the dress rehearsal but who may add to the ensemble of "cuckoo" hospital residents.)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest runs from March 25-29, 2016. Curtain is 7:30 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. The theatre is located at 3009 W. First St. (west of Schifferdecker Road), Joplin. Phone the box office for tickets at (417) 623-3638 or buy them at the door.

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