One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on Stage at Church Street Theatre
Church Street Theater (Washington, DC)
Rated 3.5 by 42 members who went.
Playing crazy to get out of prison, bad boy Randle McMurphy leads an insurrection in a state mental hospital against the tyrannical Nurse Ratched. Based on Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has proved equally popular on stage and screen, and now returns in a production from Keegan Theatre that was a hit in Ireland last fall.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
* Additional fees apply.
Currently at Church Street Theater:
- Full Price:
- $30.00
- Our Price:
- $15.00
Keegan Theatre opens their season with Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck's stage adaptation of his classic novel. It's the tragic tale of George and Lennie, two displaced ranch hands seeking employment and a better life in Depression-era California. Learn More
30 Member Reviews
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2007
4 Reviews
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I see alot of theatre, but wow, how professional! It was amazing how thoroughly the actors metamorphasized into their roles! The actors protraying McMurphy, Nurse Ratchet, Billy Bibbit, the Big Indian -- they actually became these characters. Even the "wild & crazy guys" who played various patients (and who may not have many lines) were wonderfully convincing!
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Greg H
Member since 2008
7 Reviews
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After reading the novel and seeing the classic movie, I wasn't sure what to expect with this small stage version of OFOTCN. I was pleasantly surprised; passionate and gritty, this production brought the story alive. The first act was slow at times, but the second act really brought out the humility and energy of the story. I am glad I sat in the first row so I could see the many facial expressions that strengthened the roles. A fine accomplishment.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2008
5 Reviews
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The acting was great, the setting was good. It is a hard story to make into play, but each actor put their talant into characters, every each of them was memorable. Time and money WELL SPENT!
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2007
11 Reviews
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Don't miss it! It's packed with talent and humor. It's a classic worth reviving. It's especially useful for psychiatrists such as me to see, to know how we're perceived (yes, theater exaggerates, but there's always a grain of truth). Chief's performance was especially moving.
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EventPhile
Member since 2009
3 Reviews
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The production value was great. I got really sucked into the environment and the theater had a very intimate feel. I did not see the movie nor read the book, but the performance was very layered and nuanced. Considering I know it was a book adaptation, I felt I wasn't missing out anything by not having read it.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2006
2 Reviews
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Wonderful show. Theatre was relatively small which improved
the acoustics. Sound was MUCH better than at large
theatres like the Kennedy Center and National Thr.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Absolutely phenomenal acting. So enjoyable to watch.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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I had a good time at the event. It was a good production and the performances were very good as well.
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David Downes
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Didn't remember it was so anchronistic and depressing; acting paled vs. the movie. We left after the first act
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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This was a great production and had very good acting. I really enjoyed the performance.
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Jamila Gantenbein
Member since 2006
3 Reviews
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I enjoyed this production, I thought Nurse Ratchett's performance was great. A few others were great as well, McMurphy wasn't bad but there was something missing overall.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2007
1 Reviews
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It was a superb showing of One Flew.....
Nurse brilliant. Murphy was better than Jack N in the movie. Billy the red headed troubled boy captured the part so well. He put his heart and soul into the adaptation. Fantastic
Carol Hillman
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Wow! A first rate production! I had never been to the Church Street Theatre and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the performance. The only character that didn't click for me was the Indian Chief... it's a shame because he narrated the play and I just couldn't connect with him. But the rest of the actors did a bang up job! The lead character, McMurphy, was phenomenal; honestly blew me away... overall a fabulous experience and I'd highly recommend it! Oh and the lighting effects along with the choice of music was stellar, it took you into the story and really enhanced the play. Go see it!
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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I thought the acting was great. The story closely followed the book and the play really did a great job bringing out the characters from the book.
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Kimmitt
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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The Keegan Theater's production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was a truly impressive take on a cultural classic. Each performance was outstanding; each performer created a unique character while never taking too much attention away from the overall performance of the company. The theater itself made for an intimate experience for the entire audience, who watched the events unfold literally "before their eyes." I recommend it to anyone interested in experiencing the power of the play.
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Shirley Hoffmann
Member since 2008
2 Reviews
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a really nice production. All characters were very convincing and the story kept the intense grip that it did when I saw the movie 20 years ago.
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JR
Member since 2007
6 Reviews
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Although I have seen many good plays by this group, this was not one of them. I think my friend summed it up the best. Well, they knew their lines and came in on que. Not much else can be said.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Entertaining; excellent acting. Every character was well depicted! Excellent portrayal for small stage. Loved it!!
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Karen E.
Member since 2007
9 Reviews
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An excellent portrayal of a sad and unenlightened period in the treatment of mental illness in this country. The characters were convincing as well as deserving of our empathy. I liked the intimacy of this little theatre.
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itsjustmegha
Member since 2009
2 Reviews
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I really enjoyed this play. I have not read the script or seen the movie, but still felt the play was powerful. Each actor played his/her role extremely well and it was hard to choose who I liked the best.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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Very well cast! Especially loved Nurse Rachett, Billy, and the Chief!
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Diana
Member since 2008
2 Reviews
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I saw this play on Saturday and I have to say, I'm really glad I included it as part of my ongoing birthday festivities! Last week, I read a few reviews on Goldstar that all said the same thing: the acting was great and I couldn't agree more. On top of that, Church Street Theatre (or Keegan's Theatre) is a very small, intimate venue making any seat in the house a good seat, really. I was completely engrossed in the production from beginning to end, so needless to say, I highly recommend One Flew Over to everyone who has the opportunity to see it!
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sam
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Excellent acting; it was hard to picture some of the actors off of the ward. Two of the actors were kind of cheesy and reminded me of high school theatre class. Overall I really enjoyed it and it was a great deal with Gold Star. I recommend this to anyone!
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Jen K
Member since 2006
4 Reviews
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Amazing small production -- the actors, as others have mentioned, truly became their characters. I was particularly impressed with the young actor who played Billy. The theater itself is a bit run-down and seats left little leg room (I am only 5'6" and my knees were pressed up against the seats in front of me), but the space is small enough that there isn't a bad seat (view-wise) in the house. I would definitely recommend this show to others.
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Jennifer Hyman
Member since 2007
1 Reviews
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I thought it was a very good production -- the character actors did a great job -- especially the actress who portrayed Ms. Ratched... Unfortunately, I personally found the actor who played the Chief to be the weakest, which impacted the quality of the performance somewhat.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
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cute little theater and the show was great!
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Darren
Member since 2008
4 Reviews
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Keagan Theater always does a good job, funny, good story, great venue to see a show...
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
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I took my teenage daughters to see this and despite having totally different personalities they (as well as I) loved it. One of them is going back to see it with some friends!
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BI
Member since 2009
1 Reviews
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Great energy, enjoyable acting. It had its share of cheese and pigeonholed typecasting, but was very enjoyable and emotive, overall. A few of the characters really went above and beyond my expectations - a very good performance.
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Goldstar Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
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The performance was pretty gripping. Although I had not read the play, I was familiar with both the novel and movie adaptattion, and found the production to be consistent with those. All of the actors were engaging, believable and passionate. The staging was fine, the theatre was cozy (not a bad seat in the house) and I would definitely recommend the show.
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Top Useful Tips
Tips are provided by Goldstar members and Keegan Theatre. Goldstar is not responsible for their content or accuracy.
Dress
- Casual
- Take a jacket, it can get a little chilly
Parking And Transportation
- Very short walk from Dupont CIrcle Metro
- Theatre is a little tricky to find, and so is parking. Allow extra time.
Food And Drinks
- Snacks, soda, beer and wine available for a suggested donation of $1/$5
Other
- Cute theater
- The seats were good so no matter where you sit, you should get a good view of the stage
- Single bathrooms, long lines
More Details About One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Quotes & Highlights
- "This Keegan Theatre production makes us forget about the 1975 film." --The Irish Times
- "Thanks to fine performances, this well-known play is given new life in this strong production." --The Irish Examiner
More Information
Website: http://www.keegantheatre.com/20082009season/cuckoo_us/index_E.html
Based on the seminal 1960s novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest left an indelible mark on the literature, theater, and film of our time. The Keegan Theatre's production of One Flew also left a mark - on the Irish audiences who relished the production when it toured Ireland last fall.
Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the seminal novel of the 1960s that has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Here is the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially the tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the struggle through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the awesome powers that keep them all imprisoned.
Keegan Theatre
Founded in 1996, The Keegan Theatre is a professional nonprofit theatre company dedicated to supporting theatre artists and technicians in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
