Sequoia Pathway goes a little crazy with ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ (VIDEO)

By Michelle Chance

It’s a story about rebellion against asylum-hood oppression.

Although the setting for the award-winning film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest took place decades ago, acting students at Sequoia Pathway Academy are learning about mental health awareness in today’s society by portraying patients inside a psychiatric ward.

The play opens April 28 at 7 p.m., has two performance April 29 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and closes May 5 with a show time of 7 p.m.

Acting teacher and director David Blanchard said the play shows students the advancements in mental health that have taken place since the play was written, as well as improvements the health system has yet to make.

“We are looking at the state of mental health in America even today … where you can see that not much has really changed,” Blanchard said.

The central characters in the play, R.P. McMurphy and Nurse Ratched are played by Derek Reiher and Kacie Swaffield, respectively.[quote_box_right]CAST (in order of appearance)
Chief Bromden: Grace Castellanos
Aide Warren: Jaiden Simcic
Aide Williams: Mauryce Harper
Nurse Ratched: Kacie Swaffield
Nurse Flinn: Nina Sarappo
Dale Harding: Abigail Paternina
Billy Bibbit: Jeremy Greifer
Charlie Cheswick: Rachel Couts
Scanlon: Mason Whitted
Martini: Rachel Griffin
Ruckly: Elizabeth Prentice
Randle P. McMurphy: Derek Reiher
Dr. Spivey: Cadel Grisinger
Candy Starr: Kaytlin Bovey
Aide Turkle: Calvin Wright
Sandra: Halley Sanchez
Other patients: Bryanna Juarez, Jillian Alvarez, Jillian Miller, Kiva Deluca, Lexi Vargas[/quote_box_right]

Reiher, who was cast in the school’s previous productions of “Grease” and “Spoon River Anthology,” said his biggest challenge in this play is capturing the essence of the insubordinate McMurphy.

Specifically, Reiher said the obstacle has been figuring out “how to release all this embodiment of the character and find who this character is and what I have inside myself to bring it out.”

The acting class of 24 students, the majority of whom are female, required Blanchard to switch the genders of certain characters.

Sophomore Grace Castellanos plays Chief Bromden, a traditionally male role.

“I personally think it’s pretty cool because I get to play a strong, empowered character that’s supposed to be male – as a female – which is kind of empowering to me,” Castellanos said.

Another aspect of the production is unique: The set.

The play takes place inside the school’s multipurpose building, which has a stage. However, actors will not perform on it this time.

Instead, the performance will take place in the center of the building’s floor surrounded by the audience, providing the play-goers with an immersive experience.

“We are going to sit them and kind of make them feel like they are all patients in the mental ward, too,” Blanchard said. “They just don’t know it yet.”

Tickets can be purchased at SequoiaPathway.org or at the door. Adult prices are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Student prices are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

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This story appears in the April issue of InMaricopa.