The Argus: fringe_2011_logo_red_thumb From the moment the audience began queuing to enter the venue, we became patients bound by the rules of the mental institution. Uniformed doctors and nurses chastised us and ordered us to follow a red line along clinical white corridors to a room where we were given “medication” (sweets), surgical shoe coverings and hospital wristbands.

It was an intriguing and unique start to an evening which eventually led to the unfolding story, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, of the gambling, womanising Randle McMurphy’s admittance to a mental institution in a quest to escape prison for statutory rape.

Dodger Phillips, who snarled sarcastically, “Do I look like a sane man to you?”, was excellent in the role of McMurphy, which he seemed to have modelled on Jack Nicholson’s character from the superb film.

McMurphy brings hope and humour to the sterile ward as he encourages the other inmates to stand up against the rigid Nurse Ratched (Sarah Barfoot), before meeting his tragic end.

The effort to draw the audience into the surreal world of the institution was impressive, but the long, drawn-out performance from 7.30pm to 11pm meant some of the tension, emotion and humour were sometimes lost.