THEATER REVIEW:

Decades have passed since “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was introduced to local theatergoers.

Local theaters have taken their shot at Dale Wasserman’s powerful stage adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel about a rebellious inmate’s attempts to buck the system at a state mental hospital. The latest such venture now is on view at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse.

In the Costa Mesa production, deftly directed by Tessa Jacobs, the goofy action spills out into the audience early on as hospital aides ride hard on a “walker” (Ryan Knight) who wanders the aisles befuddedly. His wordless character sets the uncomfortable mood.

The fun begins when central character McMurphy, a laggard asylum inmate, arrives. David Cherry employs his bulky presence to gain control and the patients’ admiration. This sets him on a collision course with Nurse Ratched, played with steely authority by Kelly Hero.

Cherry captures the rebellious nature of his character, more so than the serious side, with which he encounters transitional difficulty. Hero’s performance is deliberately one-dimensional, marking her as a dangerous and determined adversary.

Tops among the diverse ranks of patients is Ron Grigsby, in peak form as the intellectual giant and psychological midget Dale Harding. Also profoundly effective is Jaycob Hunter’s stammering and ultimately tragic mama’s boy, Billy Bibbitt.

R. Anthony Martinez impresses as the towering Indian believed to be deaf and mute. Nick Pappas, John Montano and Michael Ornelas render their quirky characters effectively, while Rick Hardgrove captures attention as the catatonic Ruckley.

As the diminished doctor, Jim Perham underplays nicely. Sarah Green revels as McMurphy’s “hot chick” girlfriend while Kaye Rodney lends fine support in the party scene. Travis Stolp and David Anton keep things under control as the ward aides.

Sound and lighting effects, by Joel Howden and Travis Hunter, respectively, are particularly vital to the production, especially the clanging door that punctuates each scenic transition.

While there are few surprises in any production of “Cuckoo’s Nest,” the Civic Playhouse’s rendition registers highly in its depiction of a power struggle in which one side holds all the weapons.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

WHERE: Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, 611 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa

WHEN: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. through Feb. 24

COST: $18 - $20

CALL: (949) 650-5269

‘Judas’ strong, overlong in UC Irvine production

Judas is getting a second chance to repair his legacy, but first he must deal with the likes of Mother Teresa, Mary Magdalene, Sigmund Freud, Satan and the man he betrayed, Jesus.

They’re all present at UCI, where “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” has been receiving an impressive but overwrought interpretation. Closing performances are tonight and Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. at UCI Studio Theater.

Stephen Adly Guirgis’ rambling treatise on history and theology checks in at a full three hours, and its last 10 minutes will have playgoers squirming and checking their watches.

While overlong and heavy on didactic rhetoric, “Judas” also boasts some dynamic individual performances in director Jim Knipple’s oft-stunning production, which imagines a courtroom in Purgatory convened to review the conviction of the world’s most reviled traitor.

Paramount among these is the compelling and often frenzied interpretation of Judas’ defense attorney by Helen Sage Howard, who mounts a full-throttle case.

As her courtroom opponent, Tyler Seiple’s smarmy prosecutor offers a considerable contrast. From his elevated bench, Sean Jackson presides over the trial with robust authority.

Ben Mathes produces theatrical fire and brimstone as Satan.

Equally effective on a lower key is Tom Holloman as Caiphas the Elder, the Jewish high priest who turned Jesus over to the Romans. Justin Patrick Murphy impersonates Freud with appropriate smugness.

A high point of the trial arrives when Howard faces Pontius Pilate, played by Vincent Torres. Howard raises the bar for upcoming UCI acting students.

Judas is sullenly interpreted by Joe Johnson, while Gaby Gutierrez plays a superfluous but hilariously foul-mouthed Saint Monica. Lauren Wallace quietly steals her scene as an elderly and infirm Mother Teresa, and Kate Dyler is a slyly sexy Mary Magdalene.

In an anticlimactic sequence, Jesus (Ethan Sawyer) finally appears, sharing a touching moment with one of Judas’ jurors (Jason Fielders), who recounts his own litany of sins. Cambria Beilstein grabs some easy laughs as Judas’ cigarette-wielding mother, dubbed Henrietta Iscariot.

Against the backdrop of Joshua Steadman’s devilishly creative underworld setting and Kelly Smith’s stark lighting effects, “Judas Iscariot” is both exhilarating and exhausting. Excised by about 1/3 , this would be a superior production.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”

WHERE: UCI Studio Theater

WHEN: Closing performances 8 p.m. tonight and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday

COST: $10

CALL: (949) 824-2787

The new kids on the Orange Coast College block will get their turn in the spotlight Saturday when OCC offers a free evening of performances entitled “Theater Nouveau.”The show — which starts at 8 p.m. in OCC’s Drama Lab Studio — will feature new students to the college’s theater department. It’s being produced by the OCC Repertory Company, a student-run, faculty-advised theater group now in its 23rd season. More information about the production may be obtained by calling (714) 432-5640.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.