Ovation-nominated After Hours Theatre Company invites you to enter the asylum in a first-of-its-kind hybrid immersive theatrical production of Dale Wasserman’s classic play ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, based on the novel by Ken Kesey. When Randle Patrick McMurphy gets transferred to a mental institution, he encounters Nurse Ratched who runs the psychiatric ward with an iron fist, keeping her patients cowed through abuse, medication, and sessions of electroconvulsive therapy. The battle of wills between the rebellious McMurphy and the authoritarian Ratched soon escalates, leaving no one in the ward left unscathed.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Reviews
The trouble is the production ends up feeling like it's trying to recreate a completed idea rather than ask a fresh question. The drama is more played at than played. The scenes never really find the heart - so while the story happens it never really grips you. ...But here's the thing, it's a fun night. It's an experience. It's not just another night in the theater. On the night I went the audience was a good twenty years younger than your typical LA theater audience. That's impressive.
It is always exciting to see theater that pushes boundaries and takes risks, and this production is easily amongst the most unique Los Angeles has seen this year.
As for the show itself, I was enthralled with what transpired - from the acting, to the set design, to the interaction with the audience, and everything in-between. Director Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx did a fantastic job of bringing Dale Wasserman's adaptation to life while completely immersing the audience... Overall, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is an absolute must-see. It's perfect for people who want to dip their toe into immersive while still catering to those who are more seasoned. In terms of a theatrical performance, this was top notch in both the acting and execution of the production, allowing the audience to feel as though they are part of the show without having too much of a spotlight on them.
The transformation of this large rehabilitated industrial room is amazing. Under the aegis of director Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx — and the hyperactive imagination of “Immersive Experience” designer Sarah Ashley Beil — the design is that of a realistic psych ward's recreation room, with a nurse's station looming at one end. ...The play holds up remarkably well, hewing closer to the novel than does the classic 1975 film adaptation. Not as remarkable is the cast in totality; no one sucks, but few actually fly over this cuckoo's nest;...
Essentially, while boasting a top-notch immersive prologue, this is mostly a show performed ala theatre in the round. “Chronic Patients” are audience members who stay on the safe and slightly distant seating around the perimeter. “Acute Patients” get to jump right in to group meetings and other moments, while acting as veritable free labor background actors. It's a brilliant choice, and after seeing this production I can no longer conceive of Cuckoo's Nest staged in a traditional way. RECOMMENDED
When I first heard about After Hours Theatre Company presenting a unique immersive experience of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, I knew I had to there to experience what it must really be like to be a patient in the Psych Ward with the loony characters in Dale Wasserman's adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, produced by Graham Wetterhahn and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. I do encourage audience members to visit the pharmacy (the well-stocked bar with medical-themed adult beverages available for purchase) as soon as you enter the asylum so you can put aside your fears and just enjoy all the possibilities this truly immersive experience will bring to you. Once all the audience patients are admitted (arrive early!) and given some time to interact with the other patients in the ward, audience members are asked to be seated, the lights dim and the play begins.
While immersive staging may not be the ideal way to experience One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest for maximum dramatic effect, it makes After Hours Theatre Company's one-of-a-kind production an absolute must see. This is Los Angeles theater at its most innovative and exciting.
The trouble is the production ends up feeling like it's trying to recreate a completed idea rather than ask a fresh question. The drama is more played at than played. The scenes never really find the heart - so while the story happens it never really grips you. ...But here's the thing, it's a fun night. It's an experience. It's not just another night in the theater. On the night I went the audience was a good twenty years younger than your typical LA theater audience. That's impressive.
It is always exciting to see theater that pushes boundaries and takes risks, and this production is easily amongst the most unique Los Angeles has seen this year.
As for the show itself, I was enthralled with what transpired - from the acting, to the set design, to the interaction with the audience, and everything in-between. Director Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx did a fantastic job of bringing Dale Wasserman's adaptation to life while completely immersing the audience... Overall, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST is an absolute must-see. It's perfect for people who want to dip their toe into immersive while still catering to those who are more seasoned. In terms of a theatrical performance, this was top notch in both the acting and execution of the production, allowing the audience to feel as though they are part of the show without having too much of a spotlight on them.
The transformation of this large rehabilitated industrial room is amazing. Under the aegis of director Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx — and the hyperactive imagination of “Immersive Experience” designer Sarah Ashley Beil — the design is that of a realistic psych ward's recreation room, with a nurse's station looming at one end. ...The play holds up remarkably well, hewing closer to the novel than does the classic 1975 film adaptation. Not as remarkable is the cast in totality; no one sucks, but few actually fly over this cuckoo's nest;...
Essentially, while boasting a top-notch immersive prologue, this is mostly a show performed ala theatre in the round. “Chronic Patients” are audience members who stay on the safe and slightly distant seating around the perimeter. “Acute Patients” get to jump right in to group meetings and other moments, while acting as veritable free labor background actors. It's a brilliant choice, and after seeing this production I can no longer conceive of Cuckoo's Nest staged in a traditional way. RECOMMENDED
When I first heard about After Hours Theatre Company presenting a unique immersive experience of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, I knew I had to there to experience what it must really be like to be a patient in the Psych Ward with the loony characters in Dale Wasserman's adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, produced by Graham Wetterhahn and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx. I do encourage audience members to visit the pharmacy (the well-stocked bar with medical-themed adult beverages available for purchase) as soon as you enter the asylum so you can put aside your fears and just enjoy all the possibilities this truly immersive experience will bring to you. Once all the audience patients are admitted (arrive early!) and given some time to interact with the other patients in the ward, audience members are asked to be seated, the lights dim and the play begins.
While immersive staging may not be the ideal way to experience One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest for maximum dramatic effect, it makes After Hours Theatre Company's one-of-a-kind production an absolute must see. This is Los Angeles theater at its most innovative and exciting.