Memo From the RTC: No, Billy and McMurphy Didn’t Really Die
By Norm Scott
At the final performance we were standing on the receiving
line some members of the sold out audience jokingly told Frank Caiati*, who as
Billy Bibbit commits suicide near the end of the RTC production of One Flew
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, that they were so glad to see he was still alive. Thus
the power and realism of the production, which is sort of funny, considering
the entire story may have come out of The Chief’s imagination. The play can get
pretty raw so I was surprised to see so many kids with their parents at the
Saturday night performance – but these are RTC theater kids working on the
upcoming production of Shrek, so they know the score. Still, one parent of one
of most experienced young actors, now 16, told me her daughter was so moved,
she cried as the ending unfolded. One of the key points in the play is how
quickly it goes from comedy with the audience laughing to tragedy.
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| Photo Credit: Rob Mintzes |
Those who didn’t get to the 6 sold-out performances in Fort
Tilden, the first time an RTC non-musical has sold out, have no idea what I am
talking about. Maybe next time in a decade for the 20th anniversary
of the original RTC production when I can play the doctor as an 80-year old –
if I’m still here.
There was a whole lot of sadness amongst the cast at the
breaking up of a family that had been spending so much time with each other
over the past months as people headed off to their regular lives and some to
other projects. John Stillwaggon who received raves as McMurphy is off to Texas
for a tour of his one man show based on David Sedaris’ “Santaland Diaries”. For
a non-actor like me, seeing how a professional actor work up close is a special
treat. John will be in Texas for the winter before returning to Brooklyn and we
can hope to see him again at the RTC.
Most of the rest of the cast, having regular jobs, may not
be pros in the strictest sense, but they have so much experience they might as
well be. It was quite a treat listening to the talk backstage of the lead roles
so many have played, from Willy Loman to Hamlet and everything in between.
One of the run things for me was getting to work with and
know Geoff Rawlings who I had only heard of as an artist – I took a drawing
session with him years ago. I had no idea he was also an actor who had played
the role of Scanlon in the 2005 production. I found him one of the most
interesting people to chat with. And oh those not for public consumption drawings
that kept popping up around the set.
Sadness quickly turned to cast party – once the cast had
followed orders to clean up the dressing room, store all costumes, wipe down
the mirrors, etc. (no food until it was done). People were reluctant to leave
so they engaged in some shenanigans on stage, the highlight being trying to fit
the entire cast into the small booth meant to hold no more than 3 people.
Everyone made it except me and one other cast member, but I managed to get a
photo.
By noon Monday, Tony Homsey and his crew had taken down the
magnificent set and we were down to bare stage, getting ready to put up the
Shrek set.
Memo from RTC will be on hiatus until after the New Year, so
have a happy holiday season. I will delve into the many themes in the play in my
other column, School Scope.
*The only reason I can even think of going on stage is
because of Frank Caiati’s acting classes. Frank will be offering an 8 week
acting class at the RTC starting this Sunday. Contact me by email (normsco@gmail.com) and I will forward it to
Frank who will contact you if there is still room.
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