Brookstone Theatre's One-Act Play competition piece this year is the riveting drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Dale Wasserman, adapted from the famous novel by Ken Kesey.  The team competed at the Georgia Theatre Conference State Play Festival Oct. 15-17 along with 28 schools from around the state---single-A through AAAAA.  One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won Runner-Up Best Play; Freeman McCluskey was named Festival Best Actor for his amazing portrayal of the swaggering R.P. McMurphy; and McKay Sheftall was named to the All-Star Cast for his portrayal of the suicidal Billy.  Congratulations to our One Act Team for winning State & Freeman McCluskey for winning State Best Actor.

     The production, directed by Sharon Jiles, stars seniors Freeman and McKay, Victoria Buck as Nurse Ratched, and junior Andrew Barrs as the Indian Chief.  The play also features Colston Kemp, Victoria Edgar, Wesley Nicolson, Lawrence Laska, Ross Hunter, Brian Shaw, Caroline Adams, Gracie Straus, Jonathan Dreelin, Matt Augustine, Bill Flowers, Will Buck, Charley Bates, Rebecca Loney, and Lan Woodall.

      One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is the story of wisecracking, rebellious prisoner R.P. McMurphy who is assigned to the state mental institution for evaluation; this is the role played by Jack Nicholson in the well-known movie. Diametrically opposed to McMurphy is the domineering Nurse Ratched, with whom he is engaged in a constant underlying struggle to come out on top. McMurphy leads the curious assortment of mental patients out of introversion, stages a revolt so that they can see the World Series on TV, and arranges a rollicking midnight party complete with women. Shock treatment, lobotomy, suicide, and murder spread a darker shadow over the hilarious moments of the play, but it ends with a moving scene that will inspire cheers from the audience.

       A night show for the public was presented on November 3, and the upper school was treated to their own performance during the day on November 4.