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Slater & Cuckoos Stage Late Comedy at GielgudDate: 5 October 2004
Hollywood’s Christian Slater and his co-stars in the hit revival of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest will be putting in some overtime at the Gielgud Theatre over the next two months. In what’s believed to be a first in the West End, after taking their bows in the hit play, the cast will wipe off their make-up and get back out on stage for four late-night comedy performances on Saturdays 16 and 30 October, 13 and 27 November 2004.
The late-night scheduled makes good use of many members of the ensemble – Owen O'Neill, Phil Nicol, Gavin Robertson, Ian Coppinger and Dave Johns - who are already best known as stand-ups and are making their West End acting debuts in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
The evenings will be compered by Christian Slater and will include pure stand-up and character comedy followed by an improvised finale and “off-the-cuff” singing from Slater, who calls himself the “karaoke king”. Fellow cast members (pictured with Slater) Mackenzie Crook, of TV’s The Office, and Frances Barber, who’s appeared in several West End musicals, will also perform.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is set in a mental institution where the fierce Nurse Ratched (Barber) rules over the patients in fear of the brutal treatment dealt out in the 'Shock-Shop'. Into this world walks RP McMurphy (Slater), a larger-than-life gambler who has faked psychosis in order to avoid the drudgery of a working prison.
Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel was adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman. The play premiered in 1963 on Broadway, where Kirk Douglas starred as McMurphy. The film version won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Nicholson and Best Actress for Louise Fletcher who played Nurse Ratched.
Though beset by teething problems - including a late directorial change, a bout of chicken pox and cancelled performances during its pre-West End run at the Edinburgh Fringe - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest opened at the Gielgud Theatre on 16 September 2004 (previews from 3 September) and has become a box office sell-out. The production is co-directed by Terry Johnson and Tamara Harvey, who took over from Guy Masterson, and produced by Nica Burns for Theatreshare plc, Max Weitzenhoffer and Ian Lenagan.
The late night comedy performances will begin at 10.30pm and finish by 11.30pm. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest continues its limited season up to 4 December 2004.
- by Terri Paddock
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