January 9, 10, 11
Ken Kesey’s novel is an exploration of power dynamics through the setting of a mental hospital. Randle P. McMurphy is the new patient on the ward who quickly finds himself leading a revolution for liberation of the mistreated patients. The man’s issue with authority figures inspires the other patients to fight for a taste of freedom, throwing the institution into chaos. The power-tripping staff struggles to maintain order as McMurphy plans the party of his life, with disastrous consequences for everyone involved. One of the main themes is mental health and the constant pressure to conform to society. The Second Story theatre class has spent their semester researching and exploring a wide range of artistic and stylistic influences in order to bring a certain abstraction to the performance. The ultimate goal is to bring the underlying darkness in the story out into the open and visualize it. This intense story makes the viewer question their prejudices and dissolves the very concepts of good and evil. It has mature themes that may not be suitable for young audiences.