The problem with adaptations of famous films, and indeed books, is that you already have a preconceived idea of how it should play out. What is a decent play can be ruined simply because you wanted to see your favourites recreated on stage. These problems are inherent with any stage adaptation, so it’s clear that Das Left had a hard job from the start.
Christian Slater has proved that you can’t imitate Jack Nicholson, and thankfully Des Left have taken note from this. Instead, this production of Kesey’s/Kubrick’s classic is set in Scotland with Randall McMurphy becoming a Glaswegian scallie. This jars at first, as the Scots Randall lacks the unbridled charisma that Nicholson brought to the character, but once you get used to him being a Weegie chancer the premise starts to work.
Unfortunately, this can’t be said for the rest of the performance, as much of Das Left’s production is heavy-handed and self-indulgent. The character dynamics of the original tale are completely lost, as are most of the individual characters, as individual illnesses and quirks have been replaced with a uniform level of mania. Most disappointing is the diluting and dehumanising of Nurse Ratchett and the reworking of the Chief, Kesey’s original narrator.
While his confused thoughts and flashbacks are included, thanks to the eerie spectral chorus; they are presented in confusing manner, which is completely detached from the development of the play. Their wailing and gnashing comes across as simply annoying and adds to the growing cacophony of repetitive chants and overplayed gestures.
Kesey and Kubrick’s version of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest explored different aspects of human nature and society in different, but nonetheless subtle ways. Das Left have none of this subtlety and, while there are a couple good scenes and performances, the majority of this adaptation is blatantly obvious, noisy and grating.
2/5
Richard Biggs
