Storyline: Into the day room of a mental institution one day in 1962 comes a new patient, one whose respect for authority is as low as his tolerance for routine. He shakes up the established order maintained by the attending nurse and stirs the emotions of his fellow patients, but at a cost.

Dale Wasserman's 1963 stage adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel provided a great role for Kirk Douglas' last appearance on Broadway. Its revival earned Gary Sinise his second Tony Award nomination for acting, and its movie adaptation gave Jack Nicholson his first Oscar-wining role. Obviously, it is a play that can be performed as a star vehicle. The secret of success, however, is that it is an ensemble piece, not a star turn. That is not to say that Dan VanHoozer is lacking in the lead role. He conveys both the extroverted energy of the new patient and the insecurities that drive him to an anti-establishment position of leadership. He is particularly good at showing the thought process involved whenever his character spots an opportunity to assert control. Still, members of the pack are the real story here.

It is a colorful population indeed. There is uptight, slightly prissy Joshua Drew as the leader of the inmates before the arrival of the newcomer. He's particularly good in the "chicken scratching" scene when the inmates who saw him as a leader start to turn on him. Dave Daniels is quite marvelous as the virginal inmate whose attraction to Suzanne Edgar's good-time-girl triggers tragic consequences. When he tells the newcomer that "I'm not tough like you are" he speaks for all the inmates, making the scene the heart of the show. Best of all, however, is Joe Angel Babb as the Native American Chief whose ruminations form the narration of the play. He does fine work in a part that is guaranteed to reward even merely acceptable work. In his hands, it is much more than that.

Kelley Slagle, in the key role of the head nurse, whose control of her domain is threatened the newcomer's unorthodox manner, is played just a bit harshly. There are brief glimmers of confusion that work nicely, but by and large, she makes the nurse a heavy rather than a victim of her own inflexibility and insecurities. So too, Christopher Colosi gets all the bully in the character of the aide, but misses some of his own fears. The design of the production works well in the always challenging space at Theatre on the Run.                                                                                                                                

Written by Dale Wasserman based on the novel by Ken Kesey. Directed by Kathi Gollwitzer. Fight direction by Robb Hunter. Design: Kathi Gollwitzer (set) Lynly Saunders (costumes) Doug Wilson (lights) Charles Phaneuf (sound) Ray Gniewek (photography) Elisabeth Maddrell (stage manager). Cast: Seth Alcorn, Joe Angel Babb, Christopher Culosi, Dave Daniels, Jeffrey Davis, Joshua Drew, Suzanne Edgar, Lauren Antonia Griffin, Brian Lee Huynh, Mitch Irzinski, Francisco Reinoso, Kelley Slagle, Dan VanHoozer.