One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin, until 31 Jan 2003.

Published as a novel by Ken Kesey in 1962, 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' has since become one of the most widely regarded American novels of the intervening forty years. Its success and popularity has been greatly aided by Milos Forman's Oscar-winning film adaptation in 1975 and this stage version, adapted by Dale Wasserman a year after its initial publication.

This production by Dublin's Lane Productions is timely for two reasons - it's the 40th anniversary of the novel, and it's just over one year since Kesey passed away.

Forty years on, it's reasonable to suggest that 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' is of its time, but its thesis of a psychiatric ward as a metaphor for oppressive American society is still undeniably riveting. It's enlivened by an array of intriguing characters, bubbling with black wit, and has at its core one of the most interesting power struggles ever to grace American fiction/drama.

The struggle centres on the characters of Nurse Ratched - the cold, calculating head of the asylum ward - and new boy Randle P McMurphy. Having feigned insanity to escape the drudgery of prison labour, McMurphy is immediately set apart from the other patients - he is there at the mercy of the state, most of the others are there of their own volition.

After familiarising himself with his new chums and the asylum routines, McMurphy sets about exposing Ratched for what she truly is - an uncaring, spiteful and power crazy authority figure. Gradually, he begins to succeed, as he not only rebels against all of Ratched's petty and degrading rules, but also manages to get the other patients to rebel along with him. This sets the scene for a denouement which is as tragic as it is inspiring.

The key to a successful production of 'OFOTCN' lies in the central characters of McMurphy and Ratched. The former - a hypnotic hybrid of vitality and vulgarity - is given impeccable voice here by Joe Hanley, who is without doubt the star of the show. Hanley eschews the temptation of doing a Jack Nicholson on it, and ten minutes into this you'll forget that you're watching the character that brought Nicholson his first Oscar. That, to most, should tell its own story.

As Nurse Ratched, Liz Schwarz fails to reach the heights of her co-star, but is still creepy enough to linger in the memory with her robotic manoeuvres and wide-eyed, sinister stares. Elsewhere, Titos Menchaca's Chief Bromden is solid if a little too melodramatic; Declan Mills is noteworthy as Martini and Liam O'Brien is excellent as the pivotal Billy Bibbit.

The set - as you'd expect - is suitably clinical with its shades of white and pale green, while the lighting is predominantly intense but never over-intrusive.

Beautifully executed throughout, 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' is a rich theatrical experience and while Ken Kesey actually despised Milos Forman's film, one suspects he'd have generously applauded this. It's a fine tribute to him and his most important work.

Tom Grealis