Reader Reviews
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Gielgud Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Christian Slater done himself proud in the lead role in this performance however slightly dissapointed as couldn't hear what he was saying at some points during the evening. The scene with him and the chief was wasted on me as not one word was audible. The rest of the cast was amazing and a huge round of applause to Frances Barber who's portrayal of Nurse Ratched was spot on!!! - 193.118.251.61) | 19 Jan 05 |
| I am not sure I have ever been so excited before during a London theatre visit! Christian Slater sizzles in the lead role and despite a stellar supporting cast, it is very hard to concentrate on anything else when he is on stage. He embodies the hell raising, passionate and sometimes downright perverse McMurphy to perfection with echoes of his own real life escapades resonating throughout the performance. I defy any red-blooded woman not to be thankful for the mid-way interval and a chance to calm herself down! A truly gratifying, must see production. Boyfriends - send your ladies to see this now - you won't be disappointed! - 193.118.14.2) | 10 Dec 04 |
| Having only seen the film, not the original play with Kirk Douglas, it was strange watching a play where I knew everything that was about to happen with an expectation that Jack Nocholson would pop up! Christian Slater & the Cast performed well together, Francis Barber was truly engaging as Nurse Ratchett putting her own individual interpretation on the role, no hint of the film repeating itself here. This is a good play and the cast ensure the value for money of the price of the ticket, clearly they all seemed to enjoy themselves, and therfore so did we. - 82.44.102.19) | 08 Dec 04 |
| A triumph for Christian Slater and the entire cast. - 198.81.26.104) | 08 Dec 04 |
| A lot of hype around this one - in my opinion it is only doing as well as it is becuase of Slater. There were some good performances, but nothing spectacular. On the bright side - you do get to see Slater in his underpants which is worth the ticket price alone! - 212.158.229.242) | 29 Nov 04 |
| Just seen this, and after quite a lot of hype I was a little disappointed. The cast are fantastic, with strong performances all round. But for me the play itself (never seen the film)just didnt grip me. Funny in places, and having comedians play the other inmates was a good choice.I can see why its popular and it is the cast that make it, Christian Slater has certainly proved his acting abilities. Go and see it for a strong cast, and an enjoyable evening, but for me its not the best play ive seen this year. - 81.174.228.177) | 19 Nov 04 |
| pretty good excepting the overall evil-and-nothing-else acting of Ms Barber (what WAS the overacting logic-less explosion at the climax of the piece about please?!!) Mr Slater excellent though the comparison with Nicholson always peeps in doesn't it? He was his own man though, for sure!! Rest of the cast- fantastic!! gavin Robertson- brilliant as was IAn Copinger and Dave Johns who played the almost speechless 'Ruckley'. Phil Nichol overacting somewhat and O'Neill also fantastic! I had seats in the Gods so not the best view but in the end - a lot funnier than i thought it would be and some really great ensemble stuff. Mckenzie Crook as the stammering 'Billy' also great- different from the office for sure!! Go see, but watch the cast not the principals! - 84.43.46.44) | 13 Nov 04 |
| Was nodding off during the first half but thankfully things perked up greatly in the second. Some good preformances but the play was spoilt by having some unrequired nudity. - 62.254.189.98) | 08 Nov 04 |
| I rarely go to the theatre and went on an a-level pyschology trip, but all I can say is that I was completely over-whelmed by the acting talents and story that I was watching unfold in front of my eyes. The standing ovation at the end of the play shows what a truly excellent play this was. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.0.10) | 10 Oct 04 |
| “One of the best performances I have ever seen” is how I feel after seeing this show. As a huge Christian Slater fan, when I read that he was going to be playing the role immortalised by Jack Nicholson, I knew I just had to go and see him perform. Christian Slater was absolutely astounding as RP McMurphy. He dominates the entire show with his enthusiasm, lust for life with his character, who loves breaking the rules and to hell with everyone else. The interaction between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are the most tense and sometimes hilarious head-to-heads I have witnessed on stage in a long time. Christian Slater and Frances Barber compliment each other terrifically and the chemistry between them is electrifying. Frances Barber’s performance as Nurse Ratched is an exceptionally intimidating one, her mere presence on stage as she looks upon the ward from her booth is somewhat comparable of an “angel of death”, who has full control over everyone she comes into contact with and doesn’t take too kindly to her opinions and methods being pushed aside. Mackenzie Crook gave a heart rendering performance as the tragic Billy Bibbitt. I had only seen him as ‘Gareth’ in The Office and loved his performance in that, I was very intrigued as to how he was going to perform in this character and to my delight he did an excellent job. Everyone else in the cast performed marvelously and I can really find no fault or flaw with this play or any other cast member involved. *sarah smith* - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.252.32.13) | 09 Oct 04 |
| Go see this show! I saw it on Thursday 23rd and returned on Saturday 25th. Had seats on second row stalls on Thursday and second row dress circle on Saturday. The first was brilliant! During the latter I was envious of my seat two days earlier, but the production was equally great. Mackenzie Crook was so good at playing torn up inside, I got a stomack ache by watching him. Slater was also marvellous and radiated alongside the rest of the supporting cast. I was truly surprised that the show didn't get a standing ovation at the end and I kick myself for not rising to start it off. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (129.241.46.178) | 30 Sep 04 |
| Managed to get a return today and loved it. Frances Barber superb and Christian Slater very sexy. Go see. Go see. Go see! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.3.119.218) | 19 Sep 04 |
| Fantastic. Enthralling from beginning to end with sophisticated performances from the stand up comics - especially Owen O'Neill (Harding) - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.24.202.137) | 18 Sep 04 |
| boring - USER: Whatsonstage.com (69.148.87.153) | 16 Sep 04 |
| Christian Slater - Brilliant, MacKenzie Crook - Brilliant, Frances Barber - Brilliant, rest of the cast - Brilliant! Overall performance - Brilliant! A play well worth seeing, the only let down the very slightly unrealistic explosion of MacMurphy when he finally let his anger out at the Nurse Ratchett, I feel there needed to be more of a build up, but maybe this is because I knew what was coming! It certainly doesn't let down the performance as a whole. Go see! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.255.64.8) | 14 Sep 04 |
| Go and see this.....how great to see a fabulous show acted beautifully by the whole cast..a very strong ensemble...and Frances Barber deserves to win every award going for her outstanding Nurse Ratchett. a truly great performance. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.76) | 10 Sep 04 |
| Rather impressed with Mr Slater's performance. I wouldn't say he just copied Jack Nicholson but he had a tremendous fire about him in the angry scenes. His eyes and grin are quite Jack-like but perfect for this part. Mackenzie Crook was acceptable but nothing special. Suited to the part more because of his boney, wasted away looks, then any special acting skills. Frances Barber very good as the strict Nurse Ratched but as her character's composure drained away, so did her credibility, until she ended up hoarsely screaming. SUPERB performances from the supporting cast playing mentally ill patients, especially Dave Johns, Phil Nichol and Gavin Robertson. They say the way to tell a good actor is to watch them when they are not the centre of the action. These guys kept up their illusion of illness flawlessly for two hours, Dave Johns (Ruckly) saying very little but every single time I glanced across at him leaning on his wall he was acting crazy. Slater of course got a standing ovation at the end. Well deserved in my opinion. Of all the "invaded by Hollywood stars" plays in recent years, this is one of the better ones. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.92.67.78) | 09 Sep 04 |
| brilliant - USER: Whatsonstage.com (68.97.27.78) | 06 Sep 04 |
| This is an extremely average production in which there isn't a single moment of magic or revelation. The staging is competent, nothing more. One gets the feeling that nobody involved had anything to say about the piece, it just seemed like a good way of making a packet of money. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (158.94.152.58) | 25 Aug 04 |
| Forget the hype about Slater (who is perfectly OK, by the way), it's the magnificent ensemble and a terrifying Frances Barber that make this worth a visit. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.183.131.161) | 25 Aug 04 |
