Theatre as "noise maker" - read this interview with Cuckoo's Nest director, Ed Herendeen

How is a 1963 play based on a Ken Kesey novel relevant to today’s audience?

It’s true that Cuckoo’s Nest is set in a mental institute located in the northwest in the early 60’s – even though it’s 50 years old it is certainly neither a period piece or just a play about the mental health industry. It is a microcosm of society – today’s society. Its core concept is about rebellion and change - Rebellion against conformity. - Rebellion against a repressive society.

Through his work, Ken Kesey bridged the gap between the “Beat Generation” of the 1950’s and the “Counter Culture” generation of the 1960’s. This play was produced on the cusp of the civil rights, women’s rights, and the anti-war movements. And while Cuckoo’s Nest did expose the mistreatment of the mentally ill, it also explores how religious and government repression leads to revolution.  When the “rebel” Randle P. McMurphy chooses a short sentence in a mental hospital over prison time he stands up against the tyranny of Nurse Ratched’s oppression.  McMurphy represents freedom and non-conformity, and while he suffers the consequences of taking a stand, his fellow

inmates are emotionally liberated.

Cuckoo’s Nest relates to this generation in so many ways. It speaks to so many questions – privacy; our mistrust of government; how our every movement and conversation is being recorded; how much power do we have to direct our lives. It provides the audience with questions – Is McMurphy a Christ figure? What is freedom? In this society, who are the insane people? What makes a hero?

What is your process in creating this world on stage?

After doing the research about the play, the novel, the era it was created, the authors, etc. I move into developing a concept., begin working with the designers, and start creating the world of the play

Cuckoo’s Nest is a character driven play. Our actors have developed in-depth back-stories of the characters they play. It is a perfect vehicle for these young pre-professional actors. By analyzing their character they can bring the characters to life to tell their stories. In live theatre we are all “creators of belief” and when belief is created, the power is transformative and spellbinding. The audience is swept into the world created on stage. Both the actors and the audience are in a state of belief together - in the moment – only live theatre can create this forum for a living conversation.

Like McMurphy, those of us in theatre should be “noise makers”. Asking questions, challenging our ideas.  To paraphrase Stephan Dietz, the playwright:  "We can learn more from someone's fury than we can from community approved sanitized art. American theatre needs more hand grenades.”  Theatre VCU’s production of Cuckoo’s Nest will be one of those hand grenades.