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Preview and story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
TERRY JOHNSON is to replace Guy Masterson who, only last week,
resigned as director of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Johnson has a string of credits to his name, including the Whatsonstage.com
Award-winning Hitchcock Blonde which he wrote and subsequently
directed at the Royal Court and in the West End.
Other projects include The Graduate, Dead Funny, Hysteria,
The Memory of Water and The Libertine with John
Malkovitch in Chicago.
Masterson's withdrawal came as something of a shock but as he
explained: "For reasons of a personal nature and the stress
induced by such, coupled with the highly complex and demanding
nature of this production, I have had to withdraw as director.
"I am extremely proud of putting this superb company together.
I have total belief that this production will be beautifully realised
with a fantastic, ground-breaking performance from Christian Slater
as RP McMurphy, for whom this part might well have been written.
"I wish all my lads well on the rest of this odyssey."
And Nica Burns, with whom Masterson is credited as producer,
added: "Guy Masterson has, sadly, decided to withdraw from
this production. He is a unique powerhouse who will no doubt continue
to be an innovative contributor to the theatre for years to come.
"The production is in good shape and we continue in rehearsals.
We wish Guy well and I look forward to buying him a drink at the
bar."
Following Edinburgh, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
will transfer to the West End's Gielgud Theatre
on September 7, 2004, with previews from September 3.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: HOLLYWOOD star, Christian
Slater, is to take on the role of RP McMurphy - a role made famous
by Jack Nicholson - in Ken Kesey's chilling drama about life in
a mental hospital, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
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The production will be seen first
at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms, from August 6 - 30, 2004, as part
of the 58th annual Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest of its
kind in the world.
Plans, though, are well in-hand for a September transfer to London's
West End, although a venue has yet to be confirmed.
Pivotal to the story are Ratched and McMurphy - the nurse inmates
fear almost as much as the treatment they receive in the 'Shock-Shop',
and a violent gambler who, in order to dodge the menial labour
of a working prison, fakes a psychosis.
The role of McMurphy was, of course, made famous by Nicholson,
in Milos Foreman's 1975 film, which won several Oscars.
Joining Slater as Nurse Ratched, will be Frances Barber whose
other stage credits include, Tales from the Vienna Woods,
Closer, Closer to Heaven and Insignificance.
MacKenzie Crook, seen recently in TV's The Office, will
be Billy Bibbitt and Adrian Hood, Chief Bromden.
Also joining the cast are Owen O'Neill, Ian Coppinger, Dave Johns,
Gavin Robertson and Phil Nichol, all five having previously worked
together and with director, Guy Masterson, on Twelve Angry
Men, at last year's Edinburgh Festival.
Slater himself, though, is no stranger to theatre and has recently
appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning, Sideman,
alongside TV's The Sopranos, Edie Falco.
Slater also has an impressive number of films to his credit,
including The Name of the Rose, True
Romance, Heathers, Broken Arrow, Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves
and Interview with the Vampire.
At a recent press conference, he expressed his enthusiasm for
the project, saying:
"I am thrilled to be making my West End and Edinburgh stage
debut in this great American classic, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest.
"I can't wait to start working on this fantastic role with
this amazing cast. It is great to be working again with MacKenzie
Crook, with whom I have just made Churchill - The Hollywood
Years."
Adapted for theatre by Dale Wasserman, One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest is designed by Katy Tuxford, with costumes
by Dagmar Morrell.
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