Lindenwood Flies Over Cuckoo's Nest

Bringing the classic tale One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the stage at Lindenwood University has been a longtime dream for Larry Quiggins.

"I have been wanting to do this show for 15 years," Quiggins said. "I've always loved the story."

Quiggins, chair of the Lindenwood Theatre Department, is directing the production. It will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Tuesday, April 15-19, and Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23, at the university's Emerson Black Box Theater in the .

The novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was written by Ken Kesey and published in 1962. A year later it was turned into a Broadway play written by Dale Wasserman. It is probably best known for the 1975 film version starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher.

"The play follows closer to the novel than the movie does," Quiggins said. "Most people are familiar with the movie, and those who are will be very surprised by the stage play."

Set in Oregon in 1960, the story centers on Randle McMurphy, who has agreed to be been sent to a mental institution to avoid prison. The charismatic troublemaker befriends his fellow patients while causing no end of trouble for the no-nonsense nurse who runs the place.

"It's one of my favorite stories because it makes a couple of philosophical statements and one of the biggest statements which I've always tried to live by myself is the fact that you always have to laugh, even if there's nothing to laugh at," Quiggins said. "That's one of the things that Murphy teaches the patients is that you always have to try and find humor in life."

And the second philosophical statement?

You have to stand up for yourself. Even when you're controlling and tyrannical like Nurse Ratched, you have to stand up for who you are, Quiggins said.

Jon Elkins, a graduate student in acting, plays McMurphy. "It's a big step away from any character I've played ever," he said. "He's very masculine and in your face. Keeping that energy up for a two-hour show is daunting."

"McMurphy is an interesting character," Quiggins said. "He does not have the most wonderful morals, but he's not a black-and-white villain. He cares about the patients. He could escape, but he helps the patients and stays."

"He's a character that does not care about the odds at all," Elkins said. "No one can tell him he can't do something. He has an indomitable spirit and will."

Trying her best to break McMurphy's will is Nurse Ratched, played by senior Emily Heitmeyer. "She's a very complicated character, and that's what drew me to her," she said. "This is my last show here at Lindenwood. I've grown so much that playing this character is the cherry on top."

The cast also includes David Schmich, David Moreshead, Brent Nowack, Josh Rowland, Jimmy Krawczyk, Joe Bayne, Cole Rommel, Cassie Ballard, Jason Puff, Adam Martinez, Shane Bosillo, Jaiymz Hawkins, Josh Payne, Parth Patel, Millie Naeger, Laura Gibbons, Jamal Mackey, Marvin Witherspoon, Eric Peters, Yumeho Asai and Katie Ritter.

Backstage assistance is provided by Lyndsay Hicks (stage manager), Chuck Gallaher (scenic designer), Keith Baranowski (lights), Donna Northcott (costumes) and Sarah Thompson (sound).

Tickets for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest cost $10 and are available at the Lindenwood Box Office, 636-949-4433, online at www.lindenwood.edu/center, and at the Scheidegger Center. The show features adult subject matter, and patrons younger than age 15 must be accompanied by an adult.