Brisbane Arts Theatre's innate intimacy adds to the ambience of its most recent production, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Ken Kesey's novel, set in a mental institution, was subsequently made into a now-classic film featuring a host of memorable performances from Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Will Sampson and many more. This choice sets a terrifically high bar for any ensemble, let alone an amateur one.
Productions that handle heavy topics such as mental illness can struggle to find a balance between comedy and drama, however the cast's comedic timing was on point throughout. Several laugh-out-loud moments allowed for a lighter feel to a production that could easily become lofty and cumbersome.
Plaudits to Andrew Lowe who presented a credible McMurphy — no easy task given he's charged to play a recidivist petty criminal, who's sane but faking insanity. The 2012 QSFT Best Actor managed the requisite colloquialisms as well as the psychological gymnastics. Lots of McMurphy movement around the stage kept characters and audience engaged.
Veteran director John Boyce is exploring new perspectives in this variation, asking "is the powerful, villainous Nurse Ratched capable of expressing vulnerability - is she capable of expressing authentic compassion?" As a result, Victoria Costa's Ratched is arguably a more believable character than Fletcher's film incarnation. England born and raised Costa, who only moved to Brisbane last year, also proved adept at accent changes in keeping with the American characterisation.
The cast appeared to warm to the challenge as the opening night progressed, and by the end of the marathon performance, the audience was entirely engaged in the reality of the asylum and the subtleties the script presents. The Bibbit, Cheswick, Scanlon and Martini performances were all played, and cast, well.
An origami crane hanging from the ceiling, the sliding glass window of the nurses' station, and the authentic costumes all added to the overall aesthetics of the show. The on-stage cigarettes were a nice touch in the beginning but bordered on overuse by curtain close.
It was definitely one of the better productions I’ve seen over the past twelve months, taking me out of the theatre and into the show. With three more weeks of shows to go, it's a must-see for anyone who appreciates amateur theatre, detail-oriented scripts, and pull-you-in productions.
