An actor has a lot to live up to when he’s following in the footsteps of Jack Nicholson and Gary Sinise, but Ian Griffin worked well as the lead role in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
The Riverwalk production of the classic play opened this weekend at the Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in Lansing and continues this Thursday through Sunday.
It’s billed as an adult comedy, but despite some comic relief, this play is certainly a drama.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Dale Wasserman is a play based on a novel by Ken Kesoy about Randle Patrick McMurphy (Griffin), a man who has been committed to a state mental hospital. McMurphy is a punk, but whether he belongs in this institution instead of jail is questionable.
Nicholson starred in the role of McMurphy in the 1975 film that won five Academy Awards and Sinise played the same role on Broadway this summer. Both actors are capable of portraying creepy, slimy characters.
McMurphy isn’t slimy, but he is a punk.
The first act moves slowly. Once the premise is established, the plot drags for a while before things heat up. The second act moves much faster, and watching characters discover things about life and themselves is enjoyable.
It’s easy to see the general direction of the plot, so it’s important for the cast to keep the script alive.
With 17 members, the cast is fairly large. Many of them are patients in McMurphy’s ward. Each character has his own psychological problem, most of which are amusing and a few that are realistic.
Most of the supporting characters were convincing in their roles. The patients really dug into their quirky roles.
The script is intended to be strongly emotional at times, but this production lacks a little in conveying that emotion until the end, when McMurphy’s bond with each of the other patients is complete.
Between scenes during the first act, Chief Bromden (Patrick Kelly) does an eerie voice over about life in the institution. Bromden’s psychological problems are not severe, but his time in the hospital has seriously changed him.
Music by Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane set the scene for the ’70s, when mental health treatment was clearly not what it is today. Still, it’s hard to believe that minor psychological problems would be treated with lobotomies - at least it works well in the story.
One of the most compelling parts of the play is the evolution of Chief Bromden’s character. His interaction with McMurphy is inspiring, and Kelly does a good job with the role.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” continues Thursday through Sunday. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Regular tickets are $10 on Thursday and Sunday and $12 on Friday and Saturday. Senior tickets are $8 Thursday and Sunday and $10 Friday and Saturday. All student tickets are $5.
