One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest presented by Open Eye Productions at Strawdog Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...In the hands of Mark Pracht and Anne Sheridan Smith, this battle of wills and manipulative tactics takes on prize-fights proportions -- as it should."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...Powerful performances make Open Eye Productions' revival of Dale Wasserman's play, a 1963 adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, worth seeing. Mark Pracht brings swaggering charisma to rabble-rouser McMurphy, who motivates the other men in the mental institution to stand up and fight back. Manny Sosa, Anderson Lawfer, and Kevin M. Grubb are particularly affecting as three patients involved in McMurphy's power struggle with Nurse Ratched, played by Anne Sheridan Smith as chillingly committed to her convictions."

Gay Chicago Magazine - Highly Recommended

"...This show a remarkably well-cast and directed. There is not a weakness to be found within the 16-member ensemble. Besides the incredibly strong performances of the three leads, director Christopher Maher has masterfully drawn out truly humane characterizations from David Goodloe (Aide Williams), Bradford Stevens (Aide Warren), Sam Bianchini (Nurse Flinn), Kevin Grubb (Dale Harding), Anderson Lawfer (Billy Bibbit), Steve Welsh (Scanlon), Steven Parks (Charles Cheswick), Jon Sevigny (Martini), CW van Baale (Ruckley), Ben Veatch (Dr. Spivey), Kate Cares (Candy Starr), Norman Bowers (Turkle) and Rachel Crane (Sandra)."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...Both Pracht and Smith find shades of gray in roles that are written in black and white. The actors portraying McMurphy’s fellow patients manage to make real people out of what could easily become a parade of tics (though their antics can upstage the action). Particularly strong are Kevin M. Grubb as the law-abiding leader of the pack, and Anderson Lawfer as the stuttering virgin Billy. Maher and his cast find nuance in characters written only as types."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Wow! When was the last time that word innocently escaped your lips and there was nothing more to say? For me, it was last night (July 19) at the conclusion of Open Eye Production’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Strawdog’s Theatre. As the house lights came up and the cast took their curtain call, “Wow” pretty much summed it up."