Martin McDonagh’s 1996 play, The Cripple Of Innishmaan, has just opened at the Noël Coward Theatre bringing the dark comedy back to the West End, where it opened seventeen years ago at the Royal National Theatre. The play hasn’t featured in the city since its first run, making this it’s first revival and to give it some celebrity impact they’ve cast Harry Potter and The Woman In Black star Daniel Radcliffe in the main role.
It opened on the 8th June 2013 and is scheduled to run until the 31st August 2013, giving JK Rowling, Martin McDonagh and dark comedy theatre fans just over two months to get to see the play. Reviews in the press have been mixed, but the general consensus points to a fair few laughs.
Tickets prices range between £10, £27.50 and £57.50 for the fancier sections of the Noël Coward Theatre, plus a £2 booking fee. The price includes a £1 theatre restoration donation, although there are no details on when the work is set to commence. Performance times are 7:30pm for the evening show between Monday and Saturday with 2:30pm matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. There will also be an audio described show for the 2:30pm matinee on Saturday the 20th July, as well as a captioned performance for the matinee on Saturday the 3rd August.
The story is set on the isolated island of Inishmaan out in the Atlantic side of Ireland during the mid 1930s. When the little community discovers that a Hollywood movie has arrived for filming on their neighbouring island, Inishmore, a buzz of excitement erupts. However, the draw of the stardust is felt most by Billy Clavel (Radcliffe) who goes out of his way to win a part in the film, despite his evident disability as the “cripple” from the title.
As well as Daniel Radcliffe, the cast also includes Ingrid Craigie, Pádraic Delaney (The Wind That Shakes The Barley), Sarah Greene (The Guard), Gillian Hanna, Gary Lilburn, Conor MacNeill, Pat Shortt and June Watson.
Directed by Michael Grandage, former Artistic Director at the Donmar Warehouse, the play is one of a few he’s working on this year for the Noël Coward Theatre, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V. Set and Costume Design is by Christopher Oram, Lighting Design by Paule Constable and Composition and Sound Design by Alex Baranowski.
The coming of age comedy gives Radcliffe another opportunity to work on get to grips with another new role away from Harry Potter, following his 2007 entry in Equus and role in The Woman In Black.
just to correct your one mistake the show finishes on the 31st of Aug not the 23rd as you have stated