Dark comedy rich with macabre cruelty

Nov 7 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

THE story of an unlikely film star comes to The Lowry this week with The Cripple of Inishmaan, a dark comedy written by award-winning Martin McDonagh.

It’s 1934 and news on the island of Inishmaan is thin on the ground. Then word arrives that they’re making a Hollywood film on neighbouring Inishmore and Cripple Billy, for once, is paying attention. To everyone’s surprise he gets a part in the film.

The Cripple of Inishmaan is the second play in McDonagh’s Aran Islands trilogy and is infused with his trademark humour, rich with macabre cruelty and teeming with eccentric island characters from Billy’s aunt Kate who has been known to talk to stones and gossip monger Johnnypateenmike who, for years, has been trying to get his elderly mother to drink herself to death.

Direct from Galway and the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival, this production revives the unique relationship between Tony Award-winning director Garry Hynes, writer Martin McDonagh and the acclaimed Druid ensemble.

Martin McDonagh’s theatre credits include The Leenane Trilogy, The Aran Islands Trilogy and The Pillowman. His film credits include the short film Six Shooter for which he won an Academy award in 2006 and more recently In Bruges which McDonagh also directed and which starred Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes and Brendan Gleeson.

Druid was founded in Galway in 1975 by graduates of the National University of Ireland (Galway), Mick Lally, Marie Mullen and Garry Hynes - the first professional theatre company in Ireland to be based outside Dublin.

Since then Druid has toured extensively in Ireland and recent international touring includes visits to London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Perth, Washington DC, New York and Tokyo.

Recent successes include The New Electric Ballroom (Edinburgh Fringe First 2008); Long Day’s Journey into Night (2007); The Walworth Farce (Edinburgh Fringe First 2007); and three works by John B Keane, Sive (2002), Sharon’s Grave (2003) and The Year of the Hiker (2006).

The Cripple of Inishmaan can be seen until November 8. Ring 0870 787 5793 or visit www.thelowry.com.