Written by Dale Wasserman, From the Novel by Ken Kesey
Review by Hunter King
Leitheatre has transformed the Church Hill Theatre into one of the most famous psychiatric hospitals in the canon in their production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. In theme with the crux of the show, the audience is welcomed in with a preshow announcement from Nurse Ratched, played with subtle menace by Gabrielle Pavone.
For those who don’t know, Cuckoo’s Nest follows the story of Randle McMurphy (Dougie Arbuckle), a newly admitted patient who managed to avoid jail time by claiming he was suffering from a mental illness. Upon arrival to what he imagined would be a much more forgiving environment in the psychiatric hospital, McMurphy immediately finds difficulty with authority and starts to rally the other patients together in a manner that some may call liberation, while others may see it as a riot. One of the key aspects that Leitheatre gets right with the production is the morally grey area of each of the characters, not straying away from showing that even the protagonists are problematic characters, and the villains have redeeming qualities. In this way the show feels realistic and well balanced.
Arbuckle plays McMurphy with gusto and a high energy that encapsulates the energy of the iconic Jack Nicholson performance without ever feeling like a direct copy. His character arc is written to be the most developed, and Arbuckle rises to the challenge, especially after McMurphy makes the realization that he will be trapped in the hospital for as long as it may take before he is “cured”. Arbuckle shows both the performative aspect of McMurphy, as well as the essential fear behind the mask, knowing that he is in many ways powerless while he is institutionalized. His McMurphy, despite being a morally grey, and sometimes dislikable character, has a deep seated sense of humanity that the audience can empathize with, making his eventual fate even more tragic.
The ensemble of patients all do an exceptional job of playing their characters authentically. Special praise should be reserved for Chris Learmonth, who’s Ruckly has an exceptionally impressive physical performance. Learnmonth, despite having few lines, namely a repeated “fuck ‘em all!” never loses his characterization, or wavers physically (I can only imagine how tired his arms must be). Other notable performances come from Sean Quinn and David Hepburn playing Dale Harding and Billy Bibbit, respectively. Quinn brings the meek and mildness of Harding to the forefront while maintaining the sense of intellectual leadership, while Hepburn manages to play Bibbit with an innocence that makes you wish for nothing more than for him to find happiness, again making his final scene all the more meaningful and depressing.
David Reynolds provides narration as Chief Bromden, and while his physicality of the character is impressive and feels authentic to the character, his vocal acting could at times feel a bit stagnant. This was particularly unfortunate in scenes where Chief is meant to be embracing his American Indian heritage, as this could at times feel a bit forced and less authentic. This does make the character less sympathetic overall, which can detract from the emotion in a few pivotal moments. Admittedly, this role is exceptionally hard, especially in Scotland, to have played in a way that doesn’t become offensive, but honors the heritage of the character. With this in mind, Reynolds does find a strong sense of character physically, especially in the scenes where he is being bullied by the hospital orderlies, and does deliver a performance that is overall strong enough to keep up with his fellow castmates.
Pavone plays Nurse Ratched in a way that at first is perhaps the most relatable character in the show, leaving the audience thinking that she may not only have a point, but also may be overall in the right. Having Nurse Ratched be a humanized character brings a nuance to the story that is not always present. Watching her descend from a woman who genuinely seems to want to do her job well to a manipulator with a murder plot is genuinely disturbing. Her final line, “That’s just fine.” is said in such a haunting way that it will live in my head for a good while. Early in the show I found myself rooting for her, which left me horrified in the end seeing her succeed, as it showed just how susceptible to manipulation I might be, just as the patients are.
On a technical level the show is a triumph. Stephen Hajducki’s set design is one of the most ambitious I’ve seen on the Church Hill Stage in quite some time and perfectly encapsulates the small fishbowl-like recreational room of the psychiatric hospital. Meanwhile Mark Hajducki is able to capture the natural light coming in from the barred window and balance it perfectly with the harsh industrial style lighting within the hospital.
Overall, Leitheatre’s Cuckoo’s Nest is able to capture both the humor and tragedy of Kin Kesey’s novel. The story feels simultaneously prescient and important as a time capsule, and certainly showcases a level of talent that explains why Leitheatre is still around after 80 years. It is certainly a show that you won’t want to miss.
A Show You Won’t Want To Miss
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest runs at Church Hill Theatre until May 16th
Review by Hunter King (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
