Acting up on Centre Stage
While Taupō wintertime can feel ice cold at times, Centre Stage comes in flaming hot with its latest production 'The Cripple of Inishmaan', written by Martin McDonagh.
Reviewed by Leroy Walker
After its last two hits, Hangmen (also by McDonagh) and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Centre Stage has once again put on another brilliant piece of theatre.
Inishmaan is set in 1934 on the small island of Inishmaan.
Billy, an orphaned cripple, is met with cruelty and pity from those around him.
When a Hollywood film crew arrives, he and other young islanders see it as a ticket out of poverty.
Billy gets his shot at going to America, though things aren't quite what they seem. By the end, hidden truths come to light, and while Billy finally wins a romantic moment with Helen, his future remains uncertain.
With over half the cast in their acting debut, the Centre Stage team and director Nigel Vanner have whipped them into shape to passionately portray the sad, yet comedic story of Billy Claven (Ollie Richards) as he attempts to escape the impoverished Inishmaan.
The accents: on point. The chemistry: fluid. The comedy: perfectly dark and witty.
Ollie Richards anchors the production with a heart-moving performance that builds off the character's witty comedy to convey his deeper emotions and development throughout the play.
Notably, a scene with BabbyBobby (Travis Delich) at a critical plot point really drives home the emotional depth of BIlly and Richards' performance.
John Curtis as Johnny Pateen Mike is a delight, squeezing every drop of comedy from the island's self-appointed newsmonger, with oration that would make you think he actually comes from Ireland!
Christine Gordon and Dervla Murtagh as aunties Eileen and Kate are a wonderfully mismatched pair—one crusty, one dreamy—whose bickering opens the show to instant laughter, and grounds the whole production in warmth, even as their characters’ grow.
Willow Allum and Lydia Curtis share the role as the fierce teenage Helen bring a real spark to a role that demands both cruelty and vulnerability, and Frankie Bishop as her hapless brother Bartley brings impeccable comedic timing and dim-witted youthfulness to the play.
The duo's chemistry as siblings is a bright star in a sky already filled with many.
Travis Delich as BabbyBobby achieves excellent poise in what is a pivotal emotional role, while Lindsey Seaton as Mammy O'Dougal and Flash Sandham as Doctor McSharry round out the ensemble with wit and humour that’ll leave you grinning long after the curtain falls.
McDonagh's script walks a tightrope between gut-punch tragedy and outrageous comedy, and Nigel Vanner’s direction ensures the cast never lets you forget either side of that balance.
The play sheds light on many touching themes, for which its commentary will sit with you long after watching and almost masks it with its brilliantly risky comedy.
For a cast with so many newcomers to the stage, the confidence on display is remarkable.
The Cripple of Inishmaan runs June 17–27 at the Matai Street Playhouse. Don't miss it.