Iron Age Theatre&
The Montgomery County Cultural Center
Present

Directed and Designed by Randall Wise & John Doyle
November 27,28 December 3-6, 10-13, 17-20
at the Montgomery County Cultural Center
208 Dekalb Street, Norristown -

For tickets and information call:
(610) 279-1013

Featuring:
Tom Crognale as R. P. McMurphy
Tony Giampetro as Chief Bromden
Gerre Garrett as Nurse Ratched
Bill Rahill
Jeff Jerome
Tom Crognale
Ray Saraceni
Mason Kardon
Jerry McLenigan
Laurie Norton
Brian McCann
Nasir Fowler
Jennifer Margasak
Becca Braglio
Costume Design: Beth Case
Sound Design: Bill Johnston

The brilliant play about boisterous, brawling, fun-loving rebel R.P. McMurphy, who swaggers into a mental hospital and takes over. A lusty, life-affirming fighter, McMurphy rallies the other patients and challenges the dictatorship of the Big Nurse. This defiance soon develops into an all-out war between the two relentless opponents. Funny, shocking and profoundly moving, the play is one of the classics of American drama.

This new production returns its focus to the ideas and issues of the novel, bringing Chief Bromden 's unique narration and vision to the fore. The tragic but uplifting story opf Kesey's natural man explodes on the stage with a complete sound design, dynamic lighting, a unique set, and video support.

Reviews:

While the production may not be as gripping or affecting as the celebrated 1975 movie, it packs a strong emotional punch and, by incorporating issues that interested Kesey but which the screenplay slighted, has more intellectual weight than the film.
The words and incidents are Kesey's but Wise has skillfully fashioned them into the scenes and dialogue of a coherent, dramatically forceful play.
As Nurse Ratched, Gerre garrett conveys a cool detachment and quiet reasonableness that is quite chilling. The burden of investing the production with humanity falls to the actors who play the patients, and they carry it well, particularly Ray Sarecini and Jered McLenigan. Sarecini brings to harding a poetic pedanticism steeped in emotioal disturbance that is thouroughly engrossing; McLenigan's portrayal oof the stuttering, terribly insecure Billy Bibbit is touchingly real and thouroughly affecting.
Anthony MN. Giamperto's performance conveys the dignity and injured spirit of the mute indian (Chief Bromden) while espressively engaging the audience in his asides.
Douglas J. Keating
Philadelphia Inquirer

Among the brilliant cast, Thomas Crognale as the rumpled cocky R. P. Mcmurphy, and Anthony Giapertro as the stoic Native American Chief Bromden have indellible presences.
For over Two hours, directors Randall Wise and John Doyle and a typically sterling cast put us directly inside the consciousness of the men in battle for their sanity. Iron Age is far too wise not to explore every bit of nuance from the spontaneous and logistical frenzy of that situation.
Gary Puleo
The Times Herald

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