Live Review: "The Cripple of Inishmaan"

Martin McDonagh’s play “The Cripple of Inishmaan” should have been titled “Irish Stereotypes in Two Hours or More.” Packed with obscenities, alcoholism, Catholicism, violence, gossip, and more climaxes than seemingly possible, “The Cripple of Inishmaan’s” saving grace was the refreshing acting of Kalamazoo College students.

Set in unstable Ireland in 1934, “The Cripple of Inishmaan” is about a young cripple, “cripple Billy” as the townspeople viciously call him, who dreams of fame in America. When a director comes to film his movie off the coast of Ireland, Billy leaves his two off-the-wall aunts with the hope of becoming famous. This 9-scene play follows the lives of the people Billy leaves behind and, eventually, returns to.

McDonagh has been critically acclaimed for his black comedies, comedies that contain morbid, gloomy, or dark situations as key plot points. “The Cripple of Inishmaan”, however, was filled with too much darkness and over complication to be truly comic. A witty script was juxtaposed with depressing content, and therefore not humorous. Billy’s parents died when Billy was very young; various characters tell four different tales of their death, each equally tragic and twisted. When the first adjustment to the story is made, there is a sweet raw emotion that connects the characters. By the second and third adjustment, the connection is lost, the dialogue feels forced, and the sincerity is gone.

Outfitted in authentic, time period appropriate Irish clothing, the cast of “The Cripple of Inishmaan” was exceptional. The chemistry of the nine-person cast was palpable. Whether Billy, a believably crippled, senior Theatre Major Michael Chodos, was flirting with Helen, the bold and brazen first-year, Rudi Goddard, being teased by Bartley, a goofy, tall first-year, Alden Phillips, or watching his crazy Aunt Kate, a loopy Laura Fox (senior English major), their rapport was utterly charming.

First-year Sierra Moore’s Eileen, one of Billy’s aunts, and sophomore Sam Bertken’s Johnny, the town gossip, were the post impressive performances of the evening. These two were a step above the rest with phenomenal physicality, precise and unfailing diction and poignant facial expressions. Moore is the only actress whose expressions weren’t overshadowed by her stage makeup. Bertken would trick anyone into spilling their guts by flashing an easy smirk and batting his eyes. Whether it was Moore’s believably elderly waddle or Bertken’s inebriated stumbling, the duo was positively stellar and impossible to look away from any time they graced the stage.

Due to the set up of the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse, Director Kevin Dodd had his work cut out for him. Actors struggled to maintain the fourth wall and flaunted their backsides to the audience, two big don’ts of theatre. However, with a simplistic set, the blocking was natural. Flooding the stage with a pale blue light during intense moments and casting long shadows contributed to the magical and dramatic effect that Dodd created with every aspect he had control over.

It is hard to find any fault in the Kalamzoo College Drama Department, other than the selection of such a ridiculous play.

Audience: "The Index"