Review: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Ticket Type: Partial View Dress Circle Row B

Viewing Angle: Last seat on stage-right side of the row – didn’t miss anything.

Price: $35 – General Rush

Location: Cort Theatre 44th Street.

I knew nothing about this play going in, other than the fact that Daniel Radcliffe would be making an appearance –that’s probably why… all the advertising for the play is just his headshot. I was very pleased though to find that Michael Grandage has produced a great coming-of-age comedy about a crippled boy from Inishmaan who leaves the Island to pursue an acting career and escape the label of “Billy the Cripple”.

The strength of this play comes through the characterisation by the actors. From the opening scene where we’re greeted by Ingrid Craige (Kate) and Gillain Hanna (Eileen) waffling on indirectly introducing characters indirectly to the multiple attempts by Pat Shortt (Johnnyoateenike) to kill his Mammy (June Watson) You get to the stage where you’re excited when a character enters the stage . The least exciting the character of Babbybobby played by Pádraic Delaney who becomes irrationally angry with out any real justification and his relationship with other characters is too vague.

Although I detest the applause a billed actor receives by just entering the stage, Daniel Radcliffe certainly deserved the raucous applause by the end of the play. It may not be the same physical demand of Richard III, but the physicality given by Radcliffe was consistent and required endurance. Radcliffe’s focus during his monologue is quite entrancing as you can tell he has made real connections with his character and is clearly lost in the moment.

The scene changes were smooth as the stage revolves from one incredibly detailed stonewalled room to another. The colour of the set remains appropriately dull for the entirety of the show, which really emphasises how small-town this place Billy is determined to get away from is.

This production has a lot of charm and Irish the accents were flawless, despite some Americans sitting near by complaining that the actors needed work on their annunciating. There is just a huge range of comedy in this play with quick slapstick between Conor MacNeill (Bartley McCormick) and Sarah Greene (Helen McCormick) and dark humour, which is handled to perfection.

That marks my first play on Broadway and third show – I’m yet to see anything bad yet, but I guess it wouldn’t make it if it weren’t good.

I’m missing seeing bad shows so please tell me below! Have you seen a bad show? If so, what made it so unbearable? Comment below!