Matthew Grondin in Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan at Antaeus Theatre Company. (Photo by Geoffrey Wade Photography).
Matthew Grondin in Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan at Antaeus Theatre Company. (Photo by Geoffrey Wade Photography).

The Cripple of Inishmaan

Reviewed by Julia Stier
Antaeus Theatre Company
Through March 11

RECOMMENDED

As in many small towns, rumors, insults and lies are just a part of the dialogue on Inishmaan, a tiny island off the coast of Ireland. The small-town toxicity is especially rough on Billy, the island’s resident “cripple.” When a Hollywood film crew comes to a neighboring island with the promise of bringing locals back to America to be in a movie, Billy sees his chance to escape. Under the direction of Steven Robman, Antaeus Theatre Company brings a successful production of Obie-Award winner Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy, The Cripple of Inishmaan, to the stage.

A typical day for Kate (Kitty Swink) and Eileen (Mary-Pat Green) consists of waiting for the egg man, worrying about their ward, Cripple Billy (Matthew Grondin), and hearing the breaking — though usually rather mundane — news from JohnnyPatineMike (JD Cullum). Today, however, JohnnyPatineMike drops the most glamorous piece of gossip the island has had in a while: a crew is coming to the nearby island of Inishmoor, all the way from California to shoot a film. To add to the excitement, these Hollywood folks are looking for Irish people to bring back to America to act in films. When Billy hears about this opportunity, he sees his chance to escape his hopeless life in Inishmaan.

Swink and Green are strong and sweet as Billy’s adopted aunties. Joey Millin and Abby Wilde are perfect foils as Bartley and Helen, the sibling duo that Billy catches a ride with on BabbyBobby’s (Seamus Dever) boat. Wilde is beautiful yet cruel as Helen, and Millin’s portrayal of the innocent and dimwitted Bartley imbues the character with a certain charm. Dever is wonderful as the kind-hearted BabbyBobby, which makes his turn to violence against Billy even more shocking. Cullum is lively and full of spirit and wit as the town gossip, JohnnyPatineMike. Grondin does an excellent job showcasing Billy’s courageous side, resisting temptation to play his character as solely a victim. Phil Proctor as Doctor McSharry and Anne Gee Byrd as Mammy, JohnnyPatineMike’s alcoholic old mother, round out the cast, and add great comic moments.

The script is full of twist and turns, some shocking, others heartbreaking, with one very hopeful one right at the end. The Cripple of Inishmaan makes no attempt to mask the blatant discrimination its characters have against the physically disabled, and in so doing exposes a very ugly side of human nature.

High praise for the production’s dialect coach, Lauren Lovett, as the cast keeps up consistent and believable accents throughout the entire show. A wonderfully constructed set (John Iacovelli) transforms the stage into the interior of a stone grocery shop.

Note: Antaeus is known for “partner casting,” meaning they have two full casts that alternate in performance. The night I attended, the cast named “The Fripple Frapples” was on.

 

Kiki and David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Broadway, Glendale; Fri., Sat., & Mon., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Mar. 11. (818) 506-1983 or www.Antaeus.org. Running time: about two hours and 15 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission.