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One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest : A Play in Two Acts
Comedy Drama / 13m, 4f / Int. w. inset. Kirk Douglas played on Broadway as a charming rogue who contrives to serve a short sentence in an airy mental institution rather in a prison. This, he learns, was a mistake. He clashes with the head nurse, a fierce artinet. Quickly, he takes over the yard and accomplishes what the medical profession has been unable to do for twelve years; he makes a presumed deaf and dumb Indian talk. He leads others out of introversion, stages a revolt so that they can s
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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9703 people want to read
About the author
Dale Wasserman
27Ìýbooks17ÌýfollowersDale Wasserman was an American playwright.
His protagonists are a bit like Wasserman himself: raffish rebels, fiercely independent fools—poets, madmen and misfits—societal outcasts who defy authority and "tilt at windmills," reluctant heroes (sometimes anti-heroes), who are called upon to make some extraordinary sacrifice in order to protect or preserve their personal freedom or that of others.
His protagonists are a bit like Wasserman himself: raffish rebels, fiercely independent fools—poets, madmen and misfits—societal outcasts who defy authority and "tilt at windmills," reluctant heroes (sometimes anti-heroes), who are called upon to make some extraordinary sacrifice in order to protect or preserve their personal freedom or that of others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
March 22, 2020
"One flew East and one flew West, an' one flew over the cuckoo's nest."
State Mental Hospital.
The doors are locked, the windows are barred and nasty ole Nurse "Rat-shit" (Ratched) rules the roost behind her elevated (also locked) window like a God with microphone speaker in hand.
Enter new admission, Randle P. McMurphy....who just may be feigning psychosis. He doesn't like the rules, the Lawrence Welk music or the way Nurse "Rat-shit" questions his new lunatic buddies during Group Time. He wants to gamble, watch the World Series, have a party....and get the best of "Rat-shit."....winning a few bucks into the bargain.
So, the bet is set, the party scheduled, but the outcome....it's bad....punishments severe.
Funny and sad with an unforgettably powerful ending. Thought the movie was even better, but still have to give the story five big ones!
December 9, 2017
Incredible:) It is one of those stories which remain memorably alive. The movie is as hilarious as the story itself.
April 12, 2022
definitely would appreciate this more if I read the novel, which I think maybe perhaps mayhaps I will!! but for now, let's blame this sluggish enjoyment on having to read it for class. I struggled to understand the significance of a couple of elements doe, as they seemed unnecessary, but maybe I'm just missing a bigger picture here. by the end, I was pleasantly surprised but not overly so.
November 30, 2012
The book, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey was a powerful and thought provoking story about the conditions and lives of a group of men in a mental asylum. The story follows Chief Bromden, a half-Indian man, who reflects on his time at the Oregon psychiatric hospital. He illustrates the rough conditions in the hospital, usually caused by Nurse Ratched, a strict and cruel leader in the asylum. When Randle McMurphy, a somewhat cocky and colorful man transfers to the hospital, he begins to bring back power to the men once controlled by Ratched. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest introduces deep thoughts about the true definition of insanity, and the sexuality of differing characters. The story that ensues is hectic, shocking, and unhappy, yet it left me with pleased with the story in the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I don’t normally read too many books. I’ll admit, I didn’t feel like reading this, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The story was written beautifully and it focused on a topic in which I had never read before. I enjoy stories, like William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that don’t always end completely happily, and the ending to this took a dark turn, making more memorable. I would recommend this book to anybody in high school or above. The story may be too advanced and mature for younger ages, but it was easily one of my favorites.
Overall, I would give the book five stars. It kept me engrossed with the story from cover to cover, and made me really think about mental illness and society’s view of it. The ending contains strong emotions and finishes what is an overall strong story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I don’t normally read too many books. I’ll admit, I didn’t feel like reading this, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The story was written beautifully and it focused on a topic in which I had never read before. I enjoy stories, like William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, that don’t always end completely happily, and the ending to this took a dark turn, making more memorable. I would recommend this book to anybody in high school or above. The story may be too advanced and mature for younger ages, but it was easily one of my favorites.
Overall, I would give the book five stars. It kept me engrossed with the story from cover to cover, and made me really think about mental illness and society’s view of it. The ending contains strong emotions and finishes what is an overall strong story.
April 26, 2022
~ 3.5 stars
i think i’m currently not in the right headspace for this. everything was presented well and the characters, especially mcmurphy, were brilliant. there’s honestly nothing bad with the play, i just couldn’t seem to get hooked onto the story.
Wire, brier, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock.
One flew east, one flew west,
An' one flew over the cuckoo's nest!
O-U-T spells OUT,
Goose swoops down and plucks you out!
i think i’m currently not in the right headspace for this. everything was presented well and the characters, especially mcmurphy, were brilliant. there’s honestly nothing bad with the play, i just couldn’t seem to get hooked onto the story.
January 13, 2023
played ratched in a class production, what a time
October 31, 2016
It takes considerable chutzpah to tackle a pretty excellent novel and try to pare it down into a three-act play; it takes some serious skill to make it a compelling drama that loses very little of the original text in terms of pathos and power. I'm going to have to re-visit Kesey's novel now and see how much, if anything, was lost in this translation.
August 22, 2022
It was delicious to have performed Candy Staar for a production in fall of 2017.
The more time I spent with it, the more I loved this show and the ensemble of talent found new ways to leave me feeling astounded and disturbed each night.
It was an insane amount of fun!
The more time I spent with it, the more I loved this show and the ensemble of talent found new ways to leave me feeling astounded and disturbed each night.
It was an insane amount of fun!
January 18, 2015
Honestly, I haven't read a more powerful novel in a long time...
September 29, 2018
I don't know what to think.
Who is sane? Who's not? In the beginning, it was mentioned by the nurse - although it may have been an act of attempted traumatizing - that McMurphy may have been faking his psychopathy. Overall, he didn't seem like a psychopath. But by the end of the play, there was no doubt in my mind that somewhere inside of him was a tint of insanity.
And more than that question, who's good? I talked with a friend about this, who claimed that McMurphy was fully right in his actions since they were empowering to the other patients. They sure were empowering, but another aspect of his actions was that it was changing them through pressure. Dale Harding didn't seem to be the same person at the beginning and at the end, and I don't think it was mere empowerment. He seemed to be expressing that sort of situation where people use their empowerment for wrong. Everyone was empowered - but they were also empowered to act wrongly. Overall, their shyness was conquered, but their sense of violence was awakened. Is that empowerment?
Okay, let me talk about character. The personalities of the patients were entirely accurate, and such a great addition to the feel of the play. It added a messy comical aspect that was so enjoyable. And the character development??? Was? So? Good??
AND THE MONOLOGUES. CHIEF BROMDEN'S MONOLOGUES. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THIS.
But there's a reason why I'm not rating this five stars, despite the chills going down my spine and the obvious evidence that I am asking questions that such a thriller would wish me to ask. The reason is message. I understand that it's unlikely a play such as this would aim for a positively affective message, but I think the idea is potentially damaging. My point of view for this comes from my knowledge of psychiatric hospitalization, and that the message behind this play is much of what patients convince themselves is actually happening, therefore slowing down their recovery process.
Anyway, overall, this is such a well-written production and a great use of an afternoon. (Congrats to all involved in this production at CSP - you all did an amazing job!)
Who is sane? Who's not? In the beginning, it was mentioned by the nurse - although it may have been an act of attempted traumatizing - that McMurphy may have been faking his psychopathy. Overall, he didn't seem like a psychopath. But by the end of the play, there was no doubt in my mind that somewhere inside of him was a tint of insanity.
And more than that question, who's good? I talked with a friend about this, who claimed that McMurphy was fully right in his actions since they were empowering to the other patients. They sure were empowering, but another aspect of his actions was that it was changing them through pressure. Dale Harding didn't seem to be the same person at the beginning and at the end, and I don't think it was mere empowerment. He seemed to be expressing that sort of situation where people use their empowerment for wrong. Everyone was empowered - but they were also empowered to act wrongly. Overall, their shyness was conquered, but their sense of violence was awakened. Is that empowerment?
Okay, let me talk about character. The personalities of the patients were entirely accurate, and such a great addition to the feel of the play. It added a messy comical aspect that was so enjoyable. And the character development??? Was? So? Good??
AND THE MONOLOGUES. CHIEF BROMDEN'S MONOLOGUES. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN THIS.
But there's a reason why I'm not rating this five stars, despite the chills going down my spine and the obvious evidence that I am asking questions that such a thriller would wish me to ask. The reason is message. I understand that it's unlikely a play such as this would aim for a positively affective message, but I think the idea is potentially damaging. My point of view for this comes from my knowledge of psychiatric hospitalization, and that the message behind this play is much of what patients convince themselves is actually happening, therefore slowing down their recovery process.
Anyway, overall, this is such a well-written production and a great use of an afternoon. (Congrats to all involved in this production at CSP - you all did an amazing job!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2021
Considering this book was published in 1962, it must have been a big eye opener for it’s time. I understand why this book has been banned ( not that I believe in banning books). Mcmurphy enters the “hospital � to get away from a jail sentence, and changes things on the ward. I never realized this was told by Bromden. After seeing the movie with Mcmurphy being the main character I would ave thought he’d be telling his story. A must read for all
December 21, 2024
Read a while ago, but one of my favorites. The reading process is entertaining, somewhat comforting
November 2, 2021
Too mysogonistic
April 12, 2025
A great play adapted from a novel that explains the importance of challenging authority and taking back as much power as you can. There are interesting characters and it's short in length.
November 27, 2016
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and adapted for the BBC
Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
-
This is my third encounter with this work.
First I saw the marvelous film, directed by the incredible Milos Forman and with the dazzling Jack Nicholson in the title role.
Then I have read the original, which was satisfying, but not overwhelming, at least the way I see it now.
But I can be influenced by the latest, less rewarding rendition of an abridged dramatization for the BBC.
The film benefits from Jack Nicholson’s peak form- at the time the best in the world, together with George Constantin.
Milos Forman contributed as well, together with the script that renders the hero much more likeable than in the original format.
And this may be the key and reason why I did not really enjoy the play that I finished earlier on, with a complicated anti-hero.
McMurphy is showing in this dramatization a dark side that makes me, if not loath him, at least refrain from sympathizing.
He is rude, sexist- perhaps somewhat racist- arrogant, lying to his fellow inmates, abusive, uneducated�
He talks with � “you was�
The character as presented in the film has eliminated the more despicable traits and we are left with a man fighting the system.
Which he is, but that is just the bright side and the viewer tends to forget that this is a criminal willing to cheat the system, rules and anyone else in the process.
I may just miss the point.
Or this is just a harsh treatment and a result of too high expectations- which are generally bound to disappoint- based on the portrayal made by the sensational, playful, endearing, funny and pleasant Jack Nicholson.
The fact is that McMurphy was taken to this “Cuckoo’s Nest� because he wanted a break from prison and this was a way out�
- Or wasn’t it?
It turns out that in jail an offender is sentenced to a limited time, based on his crime and in this particular case there are a few months left.
But inside a facility for those with mental problems- or is it issues? The politically correct term? - That does not apply.
McMurphy is horrified to find that he will stay in for as long as he is judged by the authorized medical personnel as…let me say insane.
A fit and the ensuing struggle are understandable, but otherwise it was his doing and limitations that brought him in.
Having emphasized this aspect that becomes more relevant in the play, I must say that I loathed the abuse and torture.
Indeed, nurse Ratched has become the epitome of cruelty, insensitivity and abuse of patients with her terrible attitude.
She refuses any help, entertainment or in the end pleasure for the patients that are refused the chance to watch TV.
In the case of Billy Bibbit, she is responsible in great part, perhaps playing the most important role in his downfall.
Then there is the terror of the system itself, beyond the individual responsibilities, with awful “treatment� that was used decades ago.
Patients were lobotomized or made to suffer electric shocks when they were judged to be in aggressive mood.
In short, anything McMurphy does pales when compared to what he has to suffer and his fellow patients.
Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
-
This is my third encounter with this work.
First I saw the marvelous film, directed by the incredible Milos Forman and with the dazzling Jack Nicholson in the title role.
Then I have read the original, which was satisfying, but not overwhelming, at least the way I see it now.
But I can be influenced by the latest, less rewarding rendition of an abridged dramatization for the BBC.
The film benefits from Jack Nicholson’s peak form- at the time the best in the world, together with George Constantin.
Milos Forman contributed as well, together with the script that renders the hero much more likeable than in the original format.
And this may be the key and reason why I did not really enjoy the play that I finished earlier on, with a complicated anti-hero.
McMurphy is showing in this dramatization a dark side that makes me, if not loath him, at least refrain from sympathizing.
He is rude, sexist- perhaps somewhat racist- arrogant, lying to his fellow inmates, abusive, uneducated�
He talks with � “you was�
The character as presented in the film has eliminated the more despicable traits and we are left with a man fighting the system.
Which he is, but that is just the bright side and the viewer tends to forget that this is a criminal willing to cheat the system, rules and anyone else in the process.
I may just miss the point.
Or this is just a harsh treatment and a result of too high expectations- which are generally bound to disappoint- based on the portrayal made by the sensational, playful, endearing, funny and pleasant Jack Nicholson.
The fact is that McMurphy was taken to this “Cuckoo’s Nest� because he wanted a break from prison and this was a way out�
- Or wasn’t it?
It turns out that in jail an offender is sentenced to a limited time, based on his crime and in this particular case there are a few months left.
But inside a facility for those with mental problems- or is it issues? The politically correct term? - That does not apply.
McMurphy is horrified to find that he will stay in for as long as he is judged by the authorized medical personnel as…let me say insane.
A fit and the ensuing struggle are understandable, but otherwise it was his doing and limitations that brought him in.
Having emphasized this aspect that becomes more relevant in the play, I must say that I loathed the abuse and torture.
Indeed, nurse Ratched has become the epitome of cruelty, insensitivity and abuse of patients with her terrible attitude.
She refuses any help, entertainment or in the end pleasure for the patients that are refused the chance to watch TV.
In the case of Billy Bibbit, she is responsible in great part, perhaps playing the most important role in his downfall.
Then there is the terror of the system itself, beyond the individual responsibilities, with awful “treatment� that was used decades ago.
Patients were lobotomized or made to suffer electric shocks when they were judged to be in aggressive mood.
In short, anything McMurphy does pales when compared to what he has to suffer and his fellow patients.
April 12, 2024
Seoses ühe väljakutsega, kus tuli lugeda teost, mille autor kirjutab etendusi või millest on tehtud etendus, siis sain lausa kaks kärbest ühe hoobiga. Kuigi “Lendas üle käopesa� romaan on kirjutatud Ken Kesey poolt, siis teatrilise raamatu tegi temast Dale Wasserman ning peale selle lugemist olen kindel, et mingil hetkel võtan kätte ka Kesey enda romaani. Lihtsalt mitte praegu, mitte veel.
Kui võrdlen Kesey raamatu kirjeldust Wassermani omaga, siis arvan, et võin kindlalt öelda, et Wasserman on väga hästi hakkama saanud ning kogu loo mõte on edasi antud. Pakun, et meil on tegemist 1960ndate aastate Ameerikaga, kuskil Kanada piiri juures (kas siis Alaska või Montana, Washingtoni, Põhja-Dakota, Minnesota osariigiga) ning tegevus leiab aset psühhiaatrikliinikus. Täpsemalt ühe konkreetse korrusega, kus on 16 meespatsienti. Raamat algab tempokalt, kus kiirelt tutvustatakse põhitegelasi ning peaõde Ratchedit. Sisse kirjutatakse uus patsient McMurphy, kes ei saa aru, miks enamik meestest seal haiglas üldse on ning hakkab võitlema vabaduse kõige algsema versiooni eest.
“Lendas üle käopesa� on kindlasti teos, mida peaksid kõik kogema. Olgu see Keyesi romaani, Wassermani näidendi või Formanni filmi näol. Ideaalis miks mitte ka kõike kolme. Suures laastus on vaatluse alla võetud meie enda ühiskond, kuid kinnisemas kompleksis ning väiksemas mastaabis. Sellest olenemata on teemad ikka samad: kas meil päriselt on ka demokraatia, kas arvestama peab ikka kõikide osapooltega, kas erinev inimene on automaatselt hull inimene, kelle käes on tegelikult võim? Kas hulluks sünnitakse või tembeldatakse ühiskonna kui ka pere poolt? Kurb oli lugeda ning tõdeda, et hulluks võidakse sildistada ka oma pere poolt, nii lihtsalt põhjusel nagu sooviga mitte lasta lapsel suureks kasvada. Veelgi kurvem aga inimeste vabatahtlik soov ise olla hull, sest mingil määral nad erinevad ühiskonnast. Olgu see siis intellektuaalselt, füüsiliselt, sooliselt või etniliselt. Puudu ei jää ka võimu, mida esindab õde Ratched, üle arutlemine. Näha, kuidas inimesele lööb võim pähe, tekib isikukultus iseenda suhtes, demokraatiast sõidetakse magusnaeratusega lihtsalt üle - see tekitab küsimuse, et kes tegelikult on meie seast hull? Kas see, kes elab oma maailmas ja kedagi ei tülita, või see kes naudib haiglaslikult teistele haiget tegemist erineval moel, aga alustades kõige lihtsamaga - elementaarse vabaduse ära võtmisega?
Kui võrdlen Kesey raamatu kirjeldust Wassermani omaga, siis arvan, et võin kindlalt öelda, et Wasserman on väga hästi hakkama saanud ning kogu loo mõte on edasi antud. Pakun, et meil on tegemist 1960ndate aastate Ameerikaga, kuskil Kanada piiri juures (kas siis Alaska või Montana, Washingtoni, Põhja-Dakota, Minnesota osariigiga) ning tegevus leiab aset psühhiaatrikliinikus. Täpsemalt ühe konkreetse korrusega, kus on 16 meespatsienti. Raamat algab tempokalt, kus kiirelt tutvustatakse põhitegelasi ning peaõde Ratchedit. Sisse kirjutatakse uus patsient McMurphy, kes ei saa aru, miks enamik meestest seal haiglas üldse on ning hakkab võitlema vabaduse kõige algsema versiooni eest.
“Lendas üle käopesa� on kindlasti teos, mida peaksid kõik kogema. Olgu see Keyesi romaani, Wassermani näidendi või Formanni filmi näol. Ideaalis miks mitte ka kõike kolme. Suures laastus on vaatluse alla võetud meie enda ühiskond, kuid kinnisemas kompleksis ning väiksemas mastaabis. Sellest olenemata on teemad ikka samad: kas meil päriselt on ka demokraatia, kas arvestama peab ikka kõikide osapooltega, kas erinev inimene on automaatselt hull inimene, kelle käes on tegelikult võim? Kas hulluks sünnitakse või tembeldatakse ühiskonna kui ka pere poolt? Kurb oli lugeda ning tõdeda, et hulluks võidakse sildistada ka oma pere poolt, nii lihtsalt põhjusel nagu sooviga mitte lasta lapsel suureks kasvada. Veelgi kurvem aga inimeste vabatahtlik soov ise olla hull, sest mingil määral nad erinevad ühiskonnast. Olgu see siis intellektuaalselt, füüsiliselt, sooliselt või etniliselt. Puudu ei jää ka võimu, mida esindab õde Ratched, üle arutlemine. Näha, kuidas inimesele lööb võim pähe, tekib isikukultus iseenda suhtes, demokraatiast sõidetakse magusnaeratusega lihtsalt üle - see tekitab küsimuse, et kes tegelikult on meie seast hull? Kas see, kes elab oma maailmas ja kedagi ei tülita, või see kes naudib haiglaslikult teistele haiget tegemist erineval moel, aga alustades kõige lihtsamaga - elementaarse vabaduse ära võtmisega?
June 6, 2022
I stage managed this play for school over the course of three months. During that time, I reread this script over and over again while I watched my classmates embody the characters.
This is not a play for high schoolers to enact. It’s emotionally demanding, the themes are complex to grasp as an adolescent, and the rehearsals were rough. The actors could be mean, the tech was rough, we really struggled to put it together sometimes. It was three months of pure grueling work.
And yet, the final show brought so much life to this script. I’ll never forget the tears in audience member’s faces, and the roaring applause once the stage faded to black. For that, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest deserves five stars.
This is not a play for high schoolers to enact. It’s emotionally demanding, the themes are complex to grasp as an adolescent, and the rehearsals were rough. The actors could be mean, the tech was rough, we really struggled to put it together sometimes. It was three months of pure grueling work.
And yet, the final show brought so much life to this script. I’ll never forget the tears in audience member’s faces, and the roaring applause once the stage faded to black. For that, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest deserves five stars.
March 26, 2018
In a mental institute, many men are imprisoned there. Mcmurphy tried to cure everyone in the institute, and he successfully cured their introvert problems and made a presumed deaf and dumb Indian talk. He did so by extending TV rights, and he hosts a liquor party in the institute. He even experienced shock therapy and even worse punishments after those several attempts to cure the other people's problems. You would like this book if you enjoy reading about conversations instead of the actual storyline. Personally, I did not enjoy reading this book because the story progression was a bit slow, and the story did not fit my taste.
August 27, 2018
The story sticks from the movie I watched so many years ago and yet of course the book is much more memorable. The characters come to life as the pages turn and I am able to picture the scenes so much more clearly with insight into the characters� minds. The horrors of the time depicted in the Nurse’s actions and the Indian’s hallucinations in a mental asylum. He is the only one to escape the Institution which in the end is victorious in shutting down the vicarious main character Murphy.
December 11, 2021
This has been a pretty fun read. I feel like I might appreciate it more if I had read the novel version or read it a second time. I do enjoy the ending because I like Chief Bromden way more than any other character. I also loved the death of all the other characters (McMurphy and Billy). They really moved the plot on well and taught us lessons. I view Chief Bromden somewhat like Lennie from Of Mice and Men. They are all big and have disabilities and are often misunderstood.
December 30, 2021
please if you have watched the film, or you’re debating whether to read or watch first. READ.
i first read this because i’d decided to write my A-level english lit coursework on it. After i’d completed it and could forget about the technical side of it, i decided to watch the film.
the film has not done justice to the true plot of this book. in fact, i hate the film.
the book uses the character Chief in such a clever way, i was angered he was just a side character in the film.
i loved the book, even after rigorously studying it.
i first read this because i’d decided to write my A-level english lit coursework on it. After i’d completed it and could forget about the technical side of it, i decided to watch the film.
the film has not done justice to the true plot of this book. in fact, i hate the film.
the book uses the character Chief in such a clever way, i was angered he was just a side character in the film.
i loved the book, even after rigorously studying it.
December 19, 2022
Before the book, before the movie, the first time I ever encountered Cuckoo’s Nest was my high school’s production of the play. That was 1978 or 79. As I recall, the some of the language was changed “f#cking� became “fricking� , for example. “Bitch�, on the other hand, stayed in. Otherwise, I think it was pretty much untouched. I teach the play at my current high school now and have students perform scenes from the play.
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June 18, 2018This became a classic the moment it hit the bookshop shelves. It was a hit film the minute it was released. Everyone knows what you mean the minute you refer to someone as "Nurse Ratchet". I love this book. This is Breakfast at Tiffany's in an insane asylum. It's Auntie Mame in a straight jacket. What's not to love?
May 9, 2024
The depiction of mental illness is actually way better for the time this was written in. This is coming from someone with mental illnesses of her own. I read this for class and had a fun time reading for Dr. Spivey and Candy. I think all of the characters in this book were very entertaining, with my favorite being Chief Bromden. I highly recommend this!
February 3, 2018
This is a phenomenal book, but sad at the same time, I also watched the film, although the film was good there's nothing that can compare to the book. In the mental hospital it appeared from day one that they just wanted to control the patients. Brilliant, brilliant
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October 1, 2018September 25-
I am reading the play at the same time as the novel to prep for a production in the next few weeks. I am at about the same place in the book and in the play version.
What I love about the play adaptation is that it makes it very clear how powerful one woman can be...to the point that it takes a group of men to try to overpower her. It also highlights how men are intimidated by women and that the "blood" that Nurse Ratched "pecks" at are the flaws that men carry and she forces them to see those flaws in order to change. What happens is that they don't like it and therefore act out.
What brilliant and wonderful writing.
Just as the novel, it left me speechless at the end. I look forward towards working on this wonderful play.
I am reading the play at the same time as the novel to prep for a production in the next few weeks. I am at about the same place in the book and in the play version.
What I love about the play adaptation is that it makes it very clear how powerful one woman can be...to the point that it takes a group of men to try to overpower her. It also highlights how men are intimidated by women and that the "blood" that Nurse Ratched "pecks" at are the flaws that men carry and she forces them to see those flaws in order to change. What happens is that they don't like it and therefore act out.
What brilliant and wonderful writing.
Just as the novel, it left me speechless at the end. I look forward towards working on this wonderful play.
March 31, 2022
I wish I liked this more but I thought it was just fine. The unreliable narrator was fun and it’s an interesting setting to explore but to be honest I have a feeling I’m gonna think the movie is better. Whoopsie.
February 22, 2025
Can definitely see why this story has stood the test of time. A very interesting play full of power dynamics and colourful characters. Would love to play Nurse Rached one day - and if McMurphy could be played by a woman I'd be ALL OVER that.
March 15, 2017
Scary Provoking!!
June 1, 2017
Amazing and moving.
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