The Cast Of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Part
Three
This is the cast of Cuckoo’s Nest. (missing from picture,
Nathan Strong and Cathy Williams)
Eighteen years ago Nathan Strong came to audition for The
Pittsfield Players’ production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s
nest and was cast in his very first show with the Players. This
year, the 50th anniversary of The Pittsfield Players, Nathan
returns to the set of Cuckoo’s Nest to prepare his retirement
from stage. Every year in between Nathan has been a Pittsfield
Players’ staple. Able to fit any role, his talent ranges from
the dramatic to the the musical and everywhere in between. In
that first rendition, Nathan played the role of Cheswick, now
assumed by Marty Williams, this year he graduates to the role of
Dr. Spivey, which he plays to a tee. His credibility as the
mousy doctor wrapped around Ratched’s (Vicki Watson) finger is
unnerving. Spivey himself is not out to rock the boat as he
sails his way to retirement. It’s a pleasure to have Strong
bookend his acting career with the Players in this show.
Speaking of taking a chance on a newbie; it’s always a little
risky to bank a character on someone you’ve just met. You trust
his resume and word of mouth. When Ken Berry came into the
theatre for auditions he was a little late and we just threw him
up on stage. The fit was Kismet. Ken Berry plays a convincing
Dale Harding who is self-admitted to this psychiatric ward. Ken
fitting himself among this veteran cast is much like McMurphy,
played by Ernie Bass, fitting himself into the acute side of the
day room. While the role has not been an easy one to learn, Ken
pulls it off with the dexterity of a true “psychopathic
sidekick.”
Ernie Bass reprises his role of R.P. McMurphy and just like his
character Ernie breathes life into the rest of the characters
around him. Both Bass’ and McMurphy’s energy is contagious with
his boisterous laugh and obnoxious little ditties being belted
out in every other scene, the rest of the crew can’t help but
jump on board. And just as contagious; when Bass’ McMurphy
comes to a terrifying end on stage, the cast of characters
around him fall into the hole that’s been left by their self
appointed saviour.
One
of those characters who fall under the spell cast by McMurphy is
Chief Bromden, played by John Chinn. Chinn portrays the Native
American Bromden who has convinced the others that he cannot
hear or speak. Under this cover Bromden is able to spy on not
only the others on the ward, but the staff as well but when
McMurphy discovers the Chief’s secret, everything changes.
Where Bromden was once able to go about his routine unnoticed,
McMurphy makes the mistake of reminding him what life really is,
makes it out to be so gratifying, in fact, that Bromden cannot
allow such a huge lover of life like McMurphy to waste one more
moment locked up.
Rounding out the cast are Elisha Griffin as Candy Starr, Beth
Champagne as Sandy, Bob Tuttle as Aide Warren, Joel Dail as Aide
Williams, Dick Colman as Aide Turkle, Cathy Williams as Nurse
Flinn (and costumer) and Mike Towle as Ruckly.
Griffin and Champagne play the party girls, Candy and Sandy,
brought in by McMurphy (Bass) who uses them in hopes of saving
his buddies on the ward. He thinks if he can throw a party and
give the men a taste of the outside they may change their minds
about their voluntary confinement, but just like the rest of
McMurphy’s schemes, the party ends in disaster.
Cathy Williams as Nurse Flinn gives the day room of the
institution the credibility of being the truly scary place that
it is . When the well-oiled machine goes off track it’s usually
the meek Flinn that is the brunt of the inmates and aides
aggressions alike. They know she will scare easily and she knows
they are capable of much worse than what they threaten.
Ruckly played by Towle, though a minor character, is a catalyst
to not only ground McMurphy’s wild demeanor but provides some
comic relief in the otherwise heavy plot, that is if you have a
twisted sense of humor.
Dail, Tuttle and Colman’s characters help move the plot along,
deliberately filling out the gaps in Wasserman’s dialogue with
allusions to Kessey’s original text. After all, it is these men
who see all and know all. Though they are on the ward everyday,
just like those who are committed or voluntary, they have
elected to spend their time in this madhouse with only a meager
salary, under the thumb of the big nurse, to keep it running
like a well-oiled MACHINE.
One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest comes to the Scenic Theatre, Home of
the Pittsfield Players as part of their 50th anniversary season,
this weekend and next, March 9, 10 16, & 17, 2018. It is
sponsored by The Iron Dragon of Pittsfield. Tickets are now
available by ticketleap at
www.pittsfieldplayers.com or by calling for reservations at
(603) 435-8852.