THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMANN Ireland and Touring till 15 November
Dublin/Touring.
THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN.
By Martin McDonagh.
Druid and Atlantic Theater Company (New York) at Olympia Theatre, Dublin until 11 October. (7.30pm, Mat 11 October 2.30pm).
Tours to Manchester & Oxford (details below).
Runs: 2hr 30min One interval.
TICKETS: 0818 719 330.
www.mcd.ie/venues/index.php?c=olympiatheatre.
0161 876 2020. (Lowry)
www.thelowry.com.
01865 305305 (Oxford Playhouse).
www.oxfordplayhouse.com.
Review: Stoon Barar: 6 October 2008.
This comic tale proves you can’t make a good omelette without breaking eggs – and McDonagh's a great chef!
If the idea of 2 hours spent in the island shop eavesdropping on the locals lacks appeal, fear not – by the end when every character has been thoroughly dissected to reveal their prejudices, fears, varied eccentricities, hopes and weaknesses, you’ll be wishing for 24 hr opening!
We first meet Kate & Eileen behind the counter of their island store; these spinster sisters are also the guardians of Cripple Billy. It’s 1934 and there’s Sunlight Soap, Brasso and tinned peas on display. The pair fret about Billy’s whereabouts and bemoan the Egg Man who’s failed to deliver - it’s all mildly amusing tittle-tattle but we hope for more and are shortly rewarded.
Enter Johnnypateenmike, a harvester of news (aka the local gossip). The quality here lies in the character detail; this is no broadly brushed stereotype but is defined with such acute observation that he becomes both fascinating and unique and gives a real flavour of the pettiness of island life. The islanders may ridicule him for the triviality of his gossip and despise him for attempts to exploit but they are as needy of his tidings as he is of their audience. The other characters all receive similar embellishment, especially Johnny’s alcoholic mother, a wonderful creation.
Just this once though, Johnnypateenmike does have a real scoop - a Hollywood film is being shot on neighbouring Inishmore and locals have been cast…Cripple Billy hears the news and yearns for a part which he hopes will be his gateway to a new life in Tinseltown. But no one takes Billy seriously, added to which is his deathly fear of water which makes the necessary boat trip to the shoot a little difficult! Billy also yearns to kiss Slippy Helen (the local beauty) – but she takes no prisoners and will always call a ‘cripple’ a “******* cripple” before giving his shins a sharp kick.
The script makes the mundane splendidly interesting and is packed with irreverent humour – those who saw (and enjoyed!) the 2008 film “In Bruges” (scripted by McDonagh) will be delighted that the film’s full scale ‘non PC-ness’ is echoed here too, stripping the piece of any sentimentality. The only feelings we have for Billy are those reflected by others – when Babbybobby shows Billy kindness by his boat we feel sympathy (yet the play brutally betrays our trust when these two next feature). When Helen slaps him, it’s only the physical pain that we wince at.
It’s a play that takes it’s time, even if occasionally repetitive in early stages – but we are rewarded with great moments such as the Doctor’s bedside visit to Mammy O’Dougal and the public screening of the film.
Helen: Kerry Condon.
Babbybobby: Andrew Connolly.
Bartley: Laurence Kinlan.
Eileen: Dearbhla Molloy.
Billy: Aaron Monaghan.
Kate: Marie Mullen.
Mammy O’Dougal: Patricia O'Connell.
Johnnypateenmike: David Pearse.
Doctor: John C Vennema.
Director: Garry Hynes.
Designer: Francis O'Connor.
Lightning: Davy Cunningham.
Sound: John Leonard.
Set/Costume: Francis O'Connor.
Composer: Colin Towns.
Casting Director (IRL): Maureen Hughes.
Casting Director: (US): Laura Stanczyk.
Movement Advisor: Mikel Murfi.
2008-10-08 09:47:47