*and I literally bumped into Jon Hamm. omgggggg!!!
Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan has returned to London for the first time since it's debut at the National in 1996. Set on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, it tells the story of the village's reaction to news that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighbouring island of Inishmore. No-one wants to have a starring role in the film more than the orphaned Cripple Billy (Daniel Radcliffe), in order to escape the tedium of island life and attempt to remove the shackles of his disability and the horrors of his past.
Set
on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, word
arrives that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighbouring island
of Inishmore. The one person who wants to be in the film more than
anybody is young Cripple Billy, if only to break away from the bitter
tedium of his daily life. - See more at:
http://www.michaelgrandagecompany.com/whats-on/#the-cripple-of-inishmaan_page0
Set
on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, word
arrives that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighbouring island
of Inishmore. The one person who wants to be in the film more than
anybody is young Cripple Billy, if only to break away from the bitter
tedium of his daily life. - See more at:
http://www.michaelgrandagecompany.com/whats-on/#the-cripple-of-inishmaan_page0
Set
on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, word
arrives that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighbouring island
of Inishmore. The one person who wants to be in the film more than
anybody is young Cripple Billy, if only to break away from the bitter
tedium of his daily life. - See more at:
http://www.michaelgrandagecompany.com/whats-on/#the-cripple-of-inishmaan_page0
[Image sourced from london-reviews.co.uk]
In terms of the cast, obviously the main attraction is Daniel Radcliffe - he's the face on all the posters and has encouraged legions of Potter fans to flock to the theatre. However despite giving a stellar performance he didn't particularly stand out, rather the entire cast was outstanding. Not one person stole the show: this was an ensemble piece that allowed each and every actor to shine, from Conor MacNeill's Bartley, a young boy obsessed with telescopes and the mysterious allure of America, to Pat Shortt's Johnnypateenmike - the island gossip who loves nothing more than to deliver "news" while making a pointed effort to encourage his mother to drink herself to the grave. Radcliffe portrayed Billy's disability with nuance and a lightness of touch, and displayed a mastery for an Irish accent that hints of careful and precise preparation. Sarah Greene lit up the stage blue with profanities as island bully Helen, whose unbridled tenacity was seen through copious egg-throwing and boundless wit. She gave a wonderfully vibrant performance that allowed hints of Helen's vulnerability to shine through an otherwise tough and unforgiving exterior. The double-act of sisters Kate (Ingrid Craigie) and Eileen (Gillian Hanna) was inspired, each combining unrivaled comedic timing with heart-breaking, touching, and occasional cruel moments.
[Image sourced from huffingtonpost.co.uk]
It's a beautifully crafted play, with the simplicity of the revolving set allowing the focus to remain on the actors and the richness of the text. The bleakness and unforgiving nature of island life is abundantly clear through the set - all stone and empty landscapes - but what could easily have been a dark and cruel play is lifted by endless quips, the warmth generated from within the island community, and a desire for acceptance at the heart of the piece. McDonagh created a masterpiece, and Michael Grandage has made the perfect choice in including it in the current season of plays at the Noel Coward Theatre.
[Image sourced from huffingtonpost.co.uk]
At the Q&A after the show, Michael Grandage began by addressing the nature of the current five play season: an attempt to "shift the axis of West End audiences" by offering over 100,000 tickets at £10 each. This is successfully attracting audience members that would previously not have entertained the theatre, and is making it a more accessible medium. Plays like The Cripple of Inishmaan and Peter and Alice before it really shouldn't be missed, and I - for one - think it's an excellent idea to open the theatre up to a demographic that may not have had the opportunity to see these types of outstanding productions before. It's almost comforting to know that an audience member can revel in the unique and electrifying delights of the theatre without having to dip into their overdraft to pay for it. I've said it before and I'll say it again; there's something magical and special about the theatre that's completely different to the cinema, and as far as I'm concerned then the more people that can experience it, the better.
Grandage has acquired a phenomenal rolecall of actors for the season, from Simon Russell Beale to Judi Dench to David Walliams. Apparently it was Radcliffe that suggested including The Cripple of Inishmaan in the season after being approached by Grandage. His passion for the play - and theatre in general - shone through in the Q&A. The world has watched him grow up on screen in the ridiculously successful Harry Potter series, but he's been praised most overtly for his choice of post-Potter roles. He certainly hasn't played it safe and has made it impossible to predict what he'll do next. His theatre credits include astonishing turns in Equus and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Having now seen him both on Broadway and the West End, I don't understand why I'm always so surprised when he turns out excellent post-Potter performances - he's a man that really can act.
[Radcliffe in How to Succeed: Image sourced from tumblr.com]
What really came across - almost without him trying - was an acknowledgement on his part that he knows exactly how lucky he is. By not having to work for money he's primarily guided by what he likes and his taste, and although he may be "attracted to left of centre things" his choices "aren't as strategised as one might think." He seems eager to learn and grow as an actor, addressing the complacency that crept in over the decade spent on the sets of Harry Potter and that by pushing himself out of his comfort zone he's forcing himself to the place where he learns best. Radcliffe spoke passionately about throwing himself into projects, and it seemed like there was nothing he wasn't keen to try. Clearly, he's not an actor that would be content to set in a rut of action / comedy / sci-fi. He's not going to just do what's easy: it's almost as if he has a point to prove, and by pushing himself to his limits he's showing the world that he deserves to be in the industry and isn't purely riding off the wave of success generated by landing a part when he was 10. The pressure must be enormous, but he's handling it with aplomb.
As an actor he's had success on both the stage and screen but clearly he prefers the screen. He compared it to talking about London and New York: "they're both great but one is home". Given the commitment required of a stage role it's unlikely he'll be treading the boards again in the immediate future given his busy screen schedule with a number of film and television roles in the pipeline. His face lit up when someone asked a question about directing - it's an avenue he's keen to pursue but not too early in his career and certainly not on stage (he doesn't "know the technical aspect").
Prior to the Q&A I was skeptical about what Radcliffe would be like. I've found him to be a little pompous in interviews in the past and was thus interested to see how he'd react. However he was - albeit a little predictably given the circumstances - charming, polite and obviously humbled by the support. He spoke warmly of his craft, the play, disability and the company. Radcliffe finished rather aptly with a nod to the audience and it's importance in altering the dynamic of a play, ensuring that everyone left with smiles on their faces. "You were lovely!" he declared, laughing. No Radcliffe, you were.
****
[Image sourced from londontheatredirect.com]
The Cripple of Inishmaan runs until the 31st August 2013 at the Noel Coward Theatre. Tickets are still available: book online here or at the Box Office.
The season continues with A Midsummer Night's Dream (feat. Sheridan Smith and David Walliams) from 7th September to 16th November 2013; followed by Henry V (feat. Jude Law) from 23rd November 2013 to 15th February 2014. I've booked my tickets: have you?
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