Pentacle Theatre will be holding a benefit performance of their upcoming play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, to help raise funds for the new Oregon State Hospital Museum, slated to open in Spring 2012. The museum will be devoted to the history of psychiatric care in Oregon, housed on the same Salem hospital campus where the 1975 Jack Nicholson film version of the play was shot.

Based on the novel by Oregon author Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is the story of McMurphy, an enigmatic work-farm prison transfer. He engineers a transfer to the asylum, hoping to serve the rest of his sentence in the relative comfort of the psychiatric hospital. His stay turns out to be more complicated that he’d hoped, as he is deeply affected by both his fellow residents and the terrifying machinations of Nurse Ratched.

Director of Pentacle's production Jo Dodge said, “This local aspect has created a great interest in our production. There will be a display in the theater lobby where a person will be available at each performance to give information to curious patrons. The display will consist of many old photos and articles from the hospital.”

Although the themes of the piece are universal, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest provides a strong sense of place for Salemites, and is often identified as a uniquely Oregonian work. However Dodge’s focus is more directed to the pathos of the play than its geography.

“The wonderful thing about this show is that it is an ensemble piece about a group of men who live in a state mental institution. When a charismatic, complex man comes into the ward, all are changed forever. My hope is that audiences will leave the theatre having been emotionally touched by this production,” she said.

The play premieres on July 9th, with the benefit for the OSH Museum Board performed on the 25th.

For more information on The Oregon State Hospital Museum, go to www.oshmuseum.org. To buy tickets for Pentacle’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest go to www.pentacletheatre.org.