One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
at Robert E. Lee High School

Reviewed on November 15, 2014

Marielle Burt
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Red Apple 21 - FCPS

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest reminds us of the humanity of those who suffer from mental illness. It confronts the audience with the tragic history of psychiatric treatment and questions the definition of "insanity." Walking out of Robert E. Lee High School's auditorium after this show, the mood was dark, but whispers circulated about the play's undeniable impact.

Based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman in 1963. A film version featuring Jack Nicolson's highly acclaimed performance was later produced in 1975, receiving five Academy Awards. The play follows Randall P. McMurphy, a charismatic, swaggering felon who feigns insanity to escape a punishment of hard labor. He is committed to an all-male mental ward ruled by the sadistic Nurse Ratched. Soon, McMurphy befriends the mistreated patients and leads them in a revolution of the clinically insane against a nurse crazy with power. In Robert E. Lee's production, the power dynamic gains an added level of complexity as the show's original gender roles are reversed: the patients are all female and stand up against a domineering male nurse. While this casting choice was certainly bold, the play aims to challenge expectations, and Robert E. Lee's gender-reversed cast did just that.

Leading the production, Ellie Milewski was a magnetic McMurphy. She stepped on the stage like a crusader, commanding every eye, invigorating every performer, and driving every scene. McMurphy is considered an extremely masculine character, but Milewski handled the gender switch with ease, embracing the bawdy humor and aggressive physicality inherent to the role. Funny, gregarious, and relatable, she was a perfect underdog. We cheer for her triumphs, and are devastated by her losses. Milewski also shared touching exchanges with Adrianna McCoy as Chief Bromden, a colossal Indian chief who is terrified into silence by her experiences in the ward. Even through silent exchanges, the bond between these characters resonates.

The supporting cast also showcased impressive performers. Phanida Langer as the stuttering Bobby Bibbit, was remarkably consistent in both her stutter and physical ticks. Ivan Jackson, as Turkle, the ward janitor, took full advantage of his comic one-liners and odd quips, providing welcome comedic relief. Sam Cornbrooks, as Dr. Spivey, the head doctor of the ward, adopted adult mannerisms and an authoritative voice to bolster his role. The ensemble of "chronic patients" also displayed incredible dedication, never dropping character for a moment despite their dearth of lines.

The production elements emphasized the Orwellian atmosphere of the mental ward, with nurses occupying a center office at all times to monitor the patients' behavior and bells signaling the transitions to new scenes. Strobe lighting elements were used to bone-chilling effect in an electroshock therapy scene, illuminating the convulsing McMurphy for just seconds at a time. The execution and attention to detail in costumes was impressive, though the time period was not clearly grounded. The patients all wore basic scrubs with distinctive accessories that reflected their characters. McMurphy's costume, in particular, evoked her spunkiness and defiance through a bold red and black plaid shirt and ripped jeans. Props also provided meaningful touches: the central office space was brimming with papers, medical journals, and other office supplies, enhancing the production's realism.

The cast of Robert E. Lee's One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest brought to life a thought-provoking drama with a modern perspective. Their passion was evident, their message powerful, and their performance extraordinary.

Eva Petersen
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Like sunlight peeking through thick, gray clouds, Lee High School's production of Dale Wasserman's classic play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, showed glimmers of spirit, hope, and humanity from the inside of a nightmarish mental institution.

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest originally ran on Broadway from 1963 to 1964 and was adapted into a movie in 1975 featuring Jack Nicholson. The movie won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest takes place in an Oregon psychiatric ward in the mid-20th century. Even though modern mental treatment standards are much more humane than the ones shown in the play, the debate on how to handle mental disabilities is still a very relevant and talked-about issue. The play also examines the concept of having one's humanity forcibly taken away in order to conform.

Lee High School took on the complex play with an interesting twist: making the psych ward all-female but run by a male nurse. This change shifted the play's power dynamic considerably between the oppressive head Nurse Ratched (Peter Block) and the women in his charge. The actors did a fine job of building suspense throughout as the upper-hand switched from the nurse to the patients, eventually culminating in a very well-choreographed fight scene.

Ellie Milewski took on the arduous task of playing the rebellious new patient (and traditionally masculine) McMurphy with spunk, and fine comedic timing. Peter Block gave a creepily stoic performance of the villainous Nurse Ratched, his imposing height enabling him to peer down at his patients. Scenes between the two were full of tension, with Milewski's sweeping gestures and brash delivery providing a stark contrast to the formality and clipped tone of Block.

The supporting cast of psych ward patients had many standouts. Phanida Langer stole the show as the twitching and stammering patient Bobby (Billy in the original play) with her attention to detail. Never once dropping character, her convulsing drew immediate attention whenever she entered a scene. Her faltering voice added to the heart-rending performance, and little mannerisms such as repeatedly punching her knee or bashing her head during lines were an excellent touch. Adrianna McCoy, as the gentle-giant Chief Bromden, had excellent stage presence. Her sad, monotone voice during her monologues showed the personal suffering of her character well. Also notable was the high-energy performance of the wild patient Cheswick by Miriam Barsoum, she had few lines but delivered what she had with enthralling zaniness.

The technical highlight of the show was the lighting choices of designer Katy Mayo, especially the use of color. In the electroshock therapy scene, the purple spotlight cast a suitable eerie glow on McMurphy and the gurney she was strapped to. The strobe light used at the end of the same scene during the delivery of the shocks themselves was also very effective. In addition, the use of a blue spotlight during Chief Bromden's monologue about a waterfall added an agreeable touch.

Robert E. Lee High School handled the challenge of putting on a gender-flipped version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with heart and occasional humor. Strong individual actors took on the touchy subject matter with skill and sagacity.

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

A single actress stands on a stage, bathed in blue light. Her face is blank, and she speaks to an invisible "Papa" about a cruel machine that runs in the night, taking away what makes people human and leaving them with gears and cogs, like machines themselves. "My God!" she exclaims. "There's such a lot of things that's true, even if they never really happen!"

And so begins Robert E. Lee High School's production of Dale Wasserman's 1963 play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." The show, based on a novel of the same name, serves to demonstrate the horrific treatment of patients in mental institutions during the mid-1900s. Circulating around a charismatic rebel called McMurphy, the story follows a group of mentally unstable individuals as they struggle under the domineering cruelty of Nurse Ratched. In this gender-flipped version, every role traditionally performed by a man was instead interpreted by a young woman, and vice versa.

The cast, overall, was filled to the brim with dedication and commitment. Even the background characters, with crazed gleams in their eyes and catatonic slumps in their postures, never lost their focus. Most impressive in terms of total concentration was Phanida Langer in the role of the always-twitching Bobby, who managed to continually spasm for hours, even when the lights were dimmed on stage. Langer also brought a youthful, endearing innocence to her part, with a layer of desperation underneath which made her character all the more tragic.

However, the deserved star of the show was McMurphy herself, excellently performed by eleventh grader Ellie Milewski. From the moment she strutted onto the stage, Milewski made herself known as a force of nature. She held the show together in terms of energy and emotional development, commanding attention during both intense physical altercations and quiet, contemplative scenes. Her relationship with Chief Bromden, played by Adrianna McCoy, was well done, with both actresses showing the fierce loyalty and caring necessary to make the show's ending understandable.

Leading man Peter Block, in the role of Nurse Ratched, was well-equipped to handle his impossibly cold, tyrannical character. He stood with a straight spine and a high chin, seemingly unbreakable until McMurphy barreled into his ward, slowly chipping away at Ratched's composure, which allowed Block's acting to really shine through during the moments of brief emotional surge.

While the production had a few technical issues, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was commendably performed and the actors and actresses of Robert E. Lee High School deserve every congratulations. A roller-coaster of horrified gasps and happy giggles, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was what high school theatre programs should aim for.

Santiago Mallan
HB Woodlawn
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

An eerie sense of illness pervades the yellow psych ward of Robert E. Lee High School's production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Written during the height of countercultural movement of the 1960's, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest began as a novel written by esteemed American author Ken Kesey. In it, we are introduced to an emotionally battered Indian Chief named Chief Bromden, thought to be deaf and dumb by the staff of the psychiatric hospital where he is kept. The sterile environment of the hospital is under the iron grip of the sadistic Nurse Ratched. This grip is loosened by the arrival of an outsider named McMurphy, a rough-and-tumble delinquent who plead insanity on an assault case in order to escape a prison sentence. As McMurphy clashes with the controlling hospital staff as well as with her submissive fellow patients, Kesey comments on the corrupt institutional process and the nature of individuality.

The Robert E. Lee High School production of Dale Wasserman's 1963 play adaptation, directed by Shannon Lynch, does a fantastic job of reflecting the sickly feel of the psych ward. Interestingly, the production was completely gender-switched, opting for a male Nurse Ratched and an all-female cast of patients. While this concept was stretched thin at some point, it cast a fresh new light on the play as a whole.

Adrianna McCoy was an excellent choice for Chief Bromden. She towered over most of the rest of the cast and exhibited a wide range of both inward and outward emotion. Her stoic performance was contrasted and complimented by that of Ellie Milewsky, who brought the role of McMurphy to life and imbued it with feverish energy, keeping the show alive and on its feet through sequences of drawn-out inaction. Her character arc from cocky to crushed was believable and an impressive acting feat.

Peter Block's stern performance as Nurse Ratched was consistently imposing and a powerful force throughout the show. Among the supporting cast of lunatics, Phanida Langer shone as Bobby, a constantly twitching and stuttering young manic who is tormented by unseen demons from her past. Langer's committal to her nervous physicality made her character's journey all the more heart-wrenching.

Additionally, the atmosphere of hopelessness was enhanced by the quiet background ensemble of the incurable "chronics." They showed impressive endurance as they rubbed the walls, mumbled gibberish and slumped lifelessly on the ground throughout the entire show.

The set was well-laid out, and while it seemed rickety in places, created a convincing environment for the show to take place. Phenomenal lighting and sound cues during the Chief's ominous monologues made for an immersive stage experience.

All in all, the cast and crew did a very good job of bringing this old play to life. Several standout performances and a clearly talented tech crew made for a haunting performance that paints a picture guaranteed to keep you awake for many nights.

Emma Paquette
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

R.P. McMurphy has always been the bull goose of wherever she goes. She is the wildest, lustiest, strongest woman in the world and, as long as she's stuck in this cuckoo's nest, the craziest too, the unquestioned bull goose loony. But when she finds herself butting heads with Nurse Ratched and his relentless iron fist of control, it's not just fun and games anymore. In their uniquely gender-swapped production, Robert E. Lee High School stunningly portrayed the bloody war for control so vividly captured in the story of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The brilliant Ken Kesey novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, was published in 1962 and then adapted into a play the following year by Dale Wasserman. However, the most famous adaptation of the story is the 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson which would go on to win five Academy Awards. The story is notable for its study of the flaws of the 1960s institutional system and its questionable practices. Lee High School's production featured all female patients and a male Nurse Ratched, a new and intriguing take on the work. While the nature of the script makes the swap difficult, the actors strove valiantly to embody the concept and were, for the most part, extremely successful.

Ellie Milewski, as the brash and bold McMurphy, was the magnetic force that held the rest of the show together. Her commanding physicality and ceaseless vitality filled the stage and infected every scene with driving energy. The taut atmosphere between Milewski and her nemesis Nurse Ratched (Peter Block) was palpable, leading up to shocking breaks of control that took the breath away with their intensity. Block himself provided an effective Ratched with poised restraint and complete understanding of his power dynamics with other characters.

The supporting cast possessed both talent and zeal, with many of the actors distinguishing themselves for their incredible performances. Bobby Bibbit was played with equal amounts of dedication and delicacy by the transformative Phanida Langer. Her twitch and stutter were always in place, painting an exquisite portrait of the nervous and sensitive girl. As a foil to Block's malicious Ratched, Sam Cornbrooks was amiable and timid as Dr. Spivey.

Even the smallest roles added to the ambiance in both the comedic and dramatic fronts. Turkle (Ivan Jackson) was hysterical with his drunken songs and lanky walk, kicking off the revelries of the amusing party scene. Even the Chronics (Amber Wilson, Amber Supernore, and Skyler Estrella) with little to no lines were entirely dedicated to the production and fulfilled their strange behaviors with unshakable focus.

The tech was useful and compelling, synthesizing unforgettable moments throughout the production. The different levels of the set were helpful to make striking stage pictures while props were also carefully selected and assembled with books, playing cards, and a real hospital stretcher. The lighting featured amazing effects such as in the electroshock therapy scene where flashing purple spotlights heightened the drama. All in all, the tech augmented the terrific story and devoted actors to put the finishing touches on the performance.

With charisma, commitment, and creativity, Robert E. Lee High School's crazy production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest brought the thought-provoking and inspirational story alive.

Erin Fiore
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

"Talk. Discuss. Confess." These words loom in the distance, crudely painted on a sign that is inescapable and always present on the back wall of the phych ward's oppressive structure. This set the tone for Robert E. Lee High School's production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the infamous story of life, society, and what it means to be truly sane.

The play was penned shortly after the publication of the 1962 novel and well before the 1975 film production, which went on to sweep the Academy Awards. Through an intricate analysis of the treatment of patients in mental institutions, the story provides a provoking criticism of society, exploring themes such as repression, struggles for power, and human sexuality.

The play is centered on a new arrival to the ward named McMurphy, a swaggering rabble-rouser who has feigned insanity in order to escape the hard labor of a jail sentence. The role of this typically macho-man character was played in this gender-flipped production by Ellie Milewski, whose power and presence on stage was a driving force of the show. Milewski sauntered across the ward, defiant of the power held by the authorities, and through her tone and bold body language made it clear that she would cave to no one. However, as the tyranny of the institution began to wear down on McMurphy, her larger-than-life presence became cowed and more timid as the institution slowly chipped away at her motivations and desires. Milewski's McMurphy was endearing and had instant chemistry with each character she interacted with, from the tyrant Nurse Ratched (Peter Block) to the stammering, shivering Bobby (Phanida Langer).

The ensemble of the ward was composed of various nurses, the "chronics," meaning the incurable patients, and the "acutes," or those who were at the institution with the goal of getting better. The various ensemble members played well off of each other, particularly the Acutes and the Chronics. Each had a specific, realized character. While never the sole focus of a particular scene, attention was often drawn to the Chronics, whether slumped immobile in a corner or slowly running their hands over the ward's yellow walls.

Expanding across the whole stage were the walls of a large common room, complete with a medication dispensing station, locked window, and grey swinging doors leading to the patients' rooms. Given that the story takes place in only one ward, the choice of a unit set was a good one. While some aspects of the construction were not quite as strong as the rest, the overall effect of the set was an oppressive space devoid of all distractions or free thoughts, which fit very well with the themes of the show. The lighting was also suitable for the bland, ceaseless light that is associated with doctor's offices and other institutions. However, where the lighting stood out was in the effects used throughout the show, specifically the colored swirls projected onto Chief Bromden (Adrianna McCoy) during her internal monologues, and the jarring flashes over the scene of electroshock therapy administered to McMurphy in an attempt to subdue her spirits.

Overall, the show was a solid production, capable of both great energy and muted sobriety. The cast was compelling in telling the story and created a cohesive and engaging production of a deep and difficult piece of American literature.