One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ends
Kanata Theatre's season

Kanata Theatre brings down the curtain on its 39^th season with the stage adaptation of one of the seminal novels of the 1960s.

First published in 1962, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest tells the story of Randle P. McMurphy who gets himself transferred from a prison work farm to the hos­pital, thinking it will be an easy way to serve out his sentence. He has a fine time hustling the patients, until he realizes that he is more than a diversion for them; he gives them the lives they are too afraid to live for themselves.

Playwright Dale Wasserman made a stage adaptation of the novel which ran briefly on Broadway in late 1963. It starred Kirk Douglas as McMurphy and Gene Wilder as Billy Bibbit. Kirk Douglas retained the rights to make a movie version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for a decade. Eventually, he gave the rights to his son Michael Douglas, who produced the movie in 1975.

Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation of the Ken Kesey novel is a witty, touching and enduring example of an individual's battle not to succumb to the forces of a dehumanizing, demoralizing society. Narrated by Indian "Chief" Bromden, the story focuses on the antics of gleefully rebellious McMurphy. McMurphy also presents a discipline problem and chal­lenge to the authority of Nurse Ratched, who exercises near-total power over those in her care, including her subordinates.

Nicholson has said that he was inspired to want to do this role by his participation as a young man in a production of The Curious Savage, a play also set in a mental institution. Kanata Theatre produced The Curious Savage several years ago.

Kanata Theatre's production of this boisterous satire contains mature subject matter and strong language. It is not suitable for children.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest directed by Shelagh Mills, runs in the Ron Maslin Playhouse, 1 Ron Maslin Way, Kanata, Tuesday to Saturday from May 20 to 30. There are no performances Sundays and Mondays.

The playhouse is fully accessible and there is ample free parking. Curtain is at 8 p.m. sharp. Tickets are $15. The box office number is 613-831-4435. You may obtain information at  www.kanatatheatre.com