LRCT presents 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest'

BRIDGTON — Crazy, loony, nuts or cuckoo. If you spent some time in a mental institution like author Ken Kesey did in the 1960s, you’d soon discover that it’s hard to tell who’s sane and who’s not. And that’s what audiences will wrestle with when Lake Region Community Theatre presents Dale Wasserman’s adaptation of Kesey’s 1963 novel, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Kesey wrote the best-selling novel after he participated in government experiments in psychopharmacology at a veteran’s mental hospital. His book spawned Wasserman’s play in 1964 as well as an Oscar-winning movie starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher in 1975. The play won a Tony Award in 2001 for Best Broadway Revival.

Guys like Randle P. McMurphy, the play’s lead character played by Raymond native Grant Dodge, make a strong first impression. They’re the rebels among us who always seem to command the center of attention. McMurphy is a scam artist and a trickster, but unlike his fellow patients, he is also brimming with life. He’s landed in a mental hospital because he cooked up a scheme to serve a short sentence there rather than in prison.

Nurse Ratched is McMurphy’s nemesis. Played by Jonna Boure of Windham, the power-wielding head nurse uses rules to crush the men’s spirits, and if there’s one thing McMurphy doesn’t like – it’s rules. When McMurphy misbehaves, he threatens to destroy the social order of Ratched’s ward. And she doesn’t like that.

This play, which contains mature content and profanity, has one fantastic ending. Hilariously funny and incredibly poignant, this is emotionally stirring theatre.

“I’ve wanted to direct this play for a long time,” said Director Rob Juergens. “It has everything. Drama, humor, incredible tension between the characters.”

Juergens has been working in theater in the Lakes Region for several years. As well as directing the past three musicals at Windham High School, he taught drama and directed shows at Windham Middle School for 10 years. He is currently Artistic Director of Windham Center Stage Theatre. This is his first experience directing a show for Lake Region Community Theatre.

The producers are Lew Krainin and Janet Ver Planck. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Performances are Thursday and Saturday, January 27 and 29, at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Region High School auditorium in Naples. There will also be a matinee performance on Sunday, January 30, at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $10 and are on sale at Krainin Real Estate on Route 302 in Raymond, Krainin Real Estate on Route 302 in Naples, and at Hayes True Value Hardware, 204 Portland Road in Bridgton. For more information visit www.lrctme.org or call 838-3846.