One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a play based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel of the same name. Several adaptations exist, but the most prominent is the stage adaptation by Dale Wasserman, first produced in 1963.

The play tells the story of Randle McMurphy, a charming rogue who feigns insanity to avoid hard labor at a prison farm. He's transferred to a mental institution where he clashes with the head nurse, Mildred Ratched, a cold and controlling figure who maintains order through manipulation and oppression.

McMurphy's rebellious nature and refusal to conform disrupt the established routines of the ward and inspire the other patients, including the seemingly deaf and mute Chief Bromden, to question Ratched's authority and reclaim their individuality. The play explores themes of sanity versus insanity, freedom versus control, and the power of individual resistance against a stifling system. It portrays the patients as individuals with unique personalities and struggles, challenging societal perceptions of mental illness.

Wasserman's adaptation generally follows the storyline of the novel, although it may differ in certain details. The play's structure emphasizes the conflict between McMurphy and Ratched, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that highlights the devastating consequences of institutional power.