YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE 'Cuckoo's Nest' earns ovation

The cast brought the characters to life in exciting performances.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest," now playing at The Youngstown Playhouse, is a study in metamorphosis.
The characters begin as bland, colorless, two-dimensional robots, like sketchy drawings on paper without the lines filled in. The setting is a ward of a mental institution, where the patients exist in a world of rigid authority, controlled by the iron hand of nurse Ratched, who they believe is helping them recover from mental illness.
But the entrance of McMurphy changes everything. He is a fun-loving wild country boy committed to the institution to escape the law and work farm. He is the first semblance of real sanity to enter these walls, and he turns them topsy-turvy.
As the play progresses, the dull sketches take form. The lines are filled in, a bit of color is added here, and some shading there. A light bulb comes on and the chronic stupor gives way, as the other patients realize they are living human beings, capable of taking responsibility for their lives.
Magnificent job
John Cox is absolutely magnificent as McMurphy. He is loud, smart alecky, delightfully vulgar and unstoppable. He plays with life and finds fun and humor in every situation. He brings in booze, cigarettes and gambling. He has no concept of rules and regulations and accepts no defeat. The energy that keeps him going at the ward is his determination to completely undo Nurse Ratched, and in the process, he shatters the illusions of everyone else.
Molly Galano superbly captures the rigidity of Nurse Ratched. She represents the epitome of the establishment. No one dares cross her, not even the resident doctor, whose presence there is only a formality as far as she is concerned.
While she gives the impression of wanting to cure, what she does is prolong the sickness. Her method of healing consists of ridicule, punishment and more strict enforcement of the rules. She is the one character to whom color is never added. The rest of the world changes around her, but she remains locked in her own prison.
The driving force of the action is the antagonism between McMurphy and Ratched, but without the other patients, neither would be able to gain any ground. McMurphy's rebellion infiltrates the core of the others, while Ratched frantically exerts more control.
Major roles
Two patients in particular play a major role, as we watch the energy being pushed and pulled asunder.
John Pecano plays Billy, who lives in fear of his mother's harsh judgment and instantly recoils at the sound of Ratched's voice. It is Pecano's mastery of stuttering that gave his performance such excellence and made this character shine.
Christopher Fidram gave an equally memorable performance of the wimpy, crybaby Dale Harding. He is obviously educated and intelligent, and is the first to make a speech on behalf of Ratched. In the end, he too claims his self-empowerment.
Perhaps the one character that truly grows from caterpillar to butterfly is Chief Bromden, played by David El'Hatton. Beginning as a deaf-mute, his character grows in importance throughout the play. If you are unfamiliar with this story, the ending will be a surprise.
This play, based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey, is truly a child of the '60s. It captures that glorious era of bucking society.
It is darkly humorous and entertaining, but deeply disturbing. The performance was superior and ended with a standing ovation.
It will run weekends through Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.