The stage adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest debuted on Broadway in 1963. Fifty-five years later, Theatre Baton Rouge is debuting its own production of the drama, full of its unusual characters and still timely themes.
The play—which has its roots in a 1962 novel of the same name and later became an award-winning film starring Jack Nicholson—follows RP McMurphy, a prisoner who tries to live out his remaining jail time in a mental institution, hoping for a more enjoyable environment. But he soon realizes the facility, run by Nurse Ratched, may not be better after all. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest deals with ethical questions that we still grapple with today regarding the perception and treatment of people dealing with mental health issues—and what to do when those in power cross the line.
We sat down with Kenneth Mayfield and Lily McGill, the actors who play McMurphy and Nurse Ratched, to talk about the production and how they are bringing the characters to life.
Why were you interested in being part of this production?
Mayfield: This play actually has a lot of sentimental value to me. It was one of the first plays I ever did, though I played a completely different role. I played [supporting character] Billy Bibbit in college, and it really opened my eyes to what theater was and what it could be.
McGill: For my undergraduate degree from LSU, I studied history and theater, so I love the historical element in that it is set in the 1960s. Also, through teaching psychology, I have gotten very interested in how mental health care has progressed in the United States and how it has changed.
What went into creating your specific role?
McGill: I think there are some similarities in how Nurse Ratched deals with the patients and how she takes care of them, and how teachers interact with students. Clay Donaldson, the director of the play, and I have talked a lot about making parallels and personalizing the character a little bit. In some ways, I have thought about how you’re always trying to do the best thing for your students. Sometimes they don’t like what you are asking them to do but you feel like it will be the best thing for them.
What is it like to physically be these characters during the show?
Mayfield: You are just responding to your situation. You’re trying to pursue an objective at all times that would be truthful to your character’s situation. The way it feels is really very hard to describe when you are living in someone else’s shoes. I think that theater is a great practice of empathy, because to make the decisions your character has to make or put yourself in the situations your character puts themselves in, you need to have a strong understanding of what their perspective is.
McGill: I will say for a darker play like this, sometimes it takes some time to shake the role off. I usually need about half an hour after a show to shed the skin of the character off.
How do you think your take on the character has changed from the auditions to now?
McGill: I think the character has changed a lot. I have talked to so many people to get their views on Nurse Ratched. People disagree on whether she is a person that is just trying to do her best or she is simply a villain and an evil person from the very beginning. I think I have gotten a lot of clarity on who this woman really is.
Mayfield: Even though McMurphy is kind of this showboat and has a big personality, I really feel like there is a tremendous amount of sympathy and empathy in him. He does think he is doing the right thing in all of the situations he is in. I don’t know that I really agreed with that going in.
What do you do outside of this play?
Mayfield: I am the technical director and resident scenic designer for Theatre Baton Rouge. I oversee all the technical elements of all the plays that go on our stage, and I design all the main stage shows, which usually amounts to about eight or so each season. For this show I’m actually pulling double duty: I play RP McMurphy, I do the scenic design and am building the set, and I’m also working as the lighting designer as well.
McGill: I teach psychology and theater at St. Joseph’s Academy and Catholic High School. I also run the drama club and direct the shows for them. As a psychology teacher, it’s definitely interesting that I’m doing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest!
What do you hope audiences will take from the production?
Mayfield: Ultimately, I think that the main point of the whole thing is just to respect one another. Just because someone is different does not mean that they are wrong or broken or need to be fixed.
McGill: I hope that it makes audiences think about how we perceive people in the mental health system, how they are treated and what kind of resources they get. I also think it will make people think of medical professionals and what happens when they are faced with tough circumstances.
Theatre Baton Rouge’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest runs Nov. 2-18. You can purchase tickets and learn more about the production at theatrebr.org.
This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of 225 Magazine.
