One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
by Dale Wasserman
Nov. 5-8, 1998
Directed by Dan Landes
A charming rogue, R. P. McMurphy, played on Broadway by Kirk Douglas and in the movie by Jack Nicholson contrives to serve a short sentence in an airy mental institution rather than in prison. The essential power of the story comes from the growth of McMurphy from con man to hero to savior. It is a paradigm of the successful struggle of the individual against an oppressive society, McMurphy's struggle with his own weaknesses and the struggle of many of the inmates of the mental hospital for human significance.
The placement of McMurphy in a mental ward between the oppressive force of Big Nurse on one side and the oppressed ranks of the individual inmates on the other side points out the historical polarity in America (especiallly evident in the 1960's) between the many and the one, between mass society and its 'norms' of conformity, and the individual and his impulse to freedome, between pessimism about human weakness and optimism about human strength. Brought to Williston by the combined efforts of Entertainment, Inc! and the UND-Williston Teton Theatre, audiences are promised a rewarding evening in the theatre.
The Cast
Randall P. McMurphy…………….Terry Gaudreau
Nurse Ratched…………….Lori Haagenson
Chief Bromden…………….Larry Sneider
Dale Harding…………….Charles J. Feruson
Billly Bibbit…………….Mark Conway
Scanlon…………….Ken Hanson
Cheswick…………….Wade Grenier
Martini…………….Cal Raaum
Taber…………….B. Michael Quale
Fredrickson…………….Todd Bertsch
Sefelt…………….Arthur Miller
Bancini…………….Dwight Wigness
Ellis…………….Jamie Rodahl
Dr. Spivey…………….Laurie Flexhaug
Nurse Pilbow…………….Jennifer Kindig
Dr. Bladek…………….Kathy Landes
Night Supervisor…………….Mary Jo Harstad
Turkle…………….Arch Ellwein
Aide Washington…………….Nic Broderson
Aide Miller…………….Dan Landes
Candy Starr…………….Michele Fuchs
Rose…………….Alisa Berg
Fishing Cpt./Bus Driver…………….Dave Richter
Production Staff
Director…………….Dan Landes
Set, Lighting, Costume Design…………….B. Michael Quale
Stage Manager…………….Mary C. Chartier
Construction Foreman…………….Joe Mendro
Sound Technician…………….Jon Geyerman
Lighting Technician…………….Sara Brown
Program Production:
Dan Landes, Linda Clemes, Mary Jo Harstad, Sharon Radle, UND-W Students, Shawn Norton
Makeup…………….Anna Powell
House Manager…………….Liz Seven
Costumes:
B. Michael Quale, Cast and Crew
Props:
B. Michael Quale, Dan Landes, Mary Jo Harstad, Jennifer Kindig, Kathy Landes, Todd Bertsch, Ken Quamme, Terry Olson, Gary Bickel, Cast and Crew, Ken Hanson, Williams County Sheriff's Dept.
Set Construction Crew:
Joe Mendro, B. Michael Quale, Cal Raaum, Duane Anderson, Todd Bertsch, Vincent Price, Ken Hanson, Roberta Glovatsky, Dan Landes, Mark Conway, Jennifer Kindig
Video Production:
Dan Landes, Jeremy Landes, David Richter, Jim Stout
Acknowledgements
District 8-Art Gutschmidt, Dale Haugen, Leroy Bares, Don Baertsch, Dave Richter, Lanette Hoffman, Jan Solem, Helen Volk-Schill, Frank Schill, Francis Arthur Schill, Sue Neff, Lee Halvorson, Dennis Knudson, Troy Lapp, Larry Nelson-KUMV, KXMD, Williston Herald, Williston Magazine, Medquest, Lewis and Clark Park
