2009-04-18 11:47
Interview with Harry Towne 
jrg
The following is from a publicity release prepared by Steve Harrington — thanks Steve!
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the play, adapted from the book made famous by Jack Nicholson’s memorable performance in the movie, opens next month. Presented by the Little Theatre Group, Cuckoo’s Nest is directed by long-time resident of Costa Rica, Harry Towne.
In a recent interview, Harry talked about how a common literary theme is the circular nature of life and added, “The performance of this play certainly reinforces this cyclical pattern of life. Twenty-five years ago I directed 12 Angry Men and acted in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Last year I acted in 12 Angry Men and am now directing One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
“I have been wanting to direct Cuckoo’s Nest for years, but the timing has not been right. Now it is, from several perspectives. For me, there are themes addressed by this play that have become more pertinent than they were in the ’60s, when the story takes place.
“In the ’60s, many of the themes were underground but are now surfacing. The experiments in brainwashing, electroshock therapy, sensory deprivation and psychological torture conducted at McGill University (among others) were institutionalized by the CIA, only to be exposed in the on-going “war on terror” 40 years later.
“But, there was another institution rising to the surface, pushed by the military-industrial complex warned about by President Eisenhower. The “Corporate Man” emerged from the depths, with a “right-thinking mind“ to lead the corporation. When the “blank slate” right-thinking worker was inscribed by the corporate Combine, this worker always made the right decision for the corporation without having to be told to do so. If the slate was not blank, there were garbled messages and, as Cool Hand Luke was told, “we have a failure of communication here.”
“Today, of course, the corporation is trans-national, but the operating principals are the same and the prize is much greater. I think the audience will enjoy this titanic struggle between the corporation and the individual, between (from my perspective) good and evil.”
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest runs May 15th to June 8th at the Laurence Olivier Theatre, (next to Sala Garbo) on Ave. 2, Calle 28. Parking lots are across the street.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m., Sundays.
For reservations, call 8355-1623 or visit www.littlehteatregroup.org
—Stephen Harrington
—publtg@gmail.com
