To the cast of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the play is about more than just people in a mental institution. To them, the play is about personal freedom and issues with authority.

Marty Ellenberger, who plays the lead role of Randle P. McMurphy, says the play is a classic conflict story.

“It’s about how far some people will go to exert their control on other people,” says Ellenberger, Ames. “It’s quite a story.”

Director Stacy Lempares Brothers, Ames, says while the play has its funny moments, it also has a serious and dark side.

“It’s about daring to be different,” Brothers says. “I hope it will make people think a little bit about questioning authority.”

Brian Parrish, who plays the mute Chief Bromden, says he hopes that the play will make people think about how they interact with each other.

“I hope that it makes people remember to treat people, in general, with respect,” says Parrish, Ames.

Jennifer Phillips, senior in performing arts, plays Candy Starr. She says “Cuckoo’s Nest” also deals with the idea of mental illness in general and how society views mental illness.

“To a certain degree, everyone has control over their minds,” Phillips says. “It’s about establishing what society views as mental illness.”

Tom Norris, who plays Scanlon, says the impact of “Cuckoo’s Nest” comes from doing this style of show at a community theater. Norris, Ames, says the play “is not a musical comedy,” which community theaters are known for staging.

“Whenever a community theater does a play like this, they’re taking a risk,” Brothers says. “It’s not a typical ACTORS [Ames community theater] play.”

Ellenberger says he is happy that ACTORS was willing to stage this production. He says he thinks it is good for a theater to be balanced.

Brothers says “Cuckoo’s Nest” is a challenging play to put on, but the cast was up to the challenge.

Ellenberger says rehearsing for the play was made easier by the level or professionalism exhibited by the cast and crew.

“Working with such an extremely talented cast and a director who had a vision is very nice,” Ellenberger says.

Brothers says having worked with multiple members of the cast in other productions has also helped the show.

“I know what they’re capable of, and they know what to expect from me,” Brothers says.

Although the cast agree that the play is about freedom and trouble with authority, they also recognize that mental illness is a large part of the play.

Brothers says it is challenging for actors playing people with mental illnesses to find the right balance for the characters they are portraying.

Ellenberger says putting on a straitjacket for the first time during rehearsal was extremely mentally uncomfortable.

“All of the sudden I just couldn’t move,” Ellenberger says.

“It was just a strange feeling for me.”

Norris says, overall, he hopes that people will see that mental illness is nothing more than what society and authority deem it to be.

“Who’s crazy?” Norris says. “The people who do exactly the same thing because they are told to, or the person that doesn’t do it for the same reason?”

What: “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

Where: Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $15 for adults, $13 for students and senior citizens