On a Sunny Sunday afternoon in Manhattan, my dad and I walked all the way to the Cort Theater On Broadway. When we finally arrived, there was a big sign saying Daniel Radcliffe in The Cripple of Inishmaan, by Martin McDonagh and Directed by Michael Grundage. The excitement in me could barely contain itself , as this was my second time seeing Daniel Radcliffe on stage but first time seeing him about 9 rows back. The theater inside was amazing, as well as the set and the performers.
Cort Theater is beautiful, with seats that are covered with red fabric and beautiful paintings of the ceilings. The stage had a curtain of what seemed to be a picture of Ireland with rocks and water. The show started at exactly 3:00 p.m., with these two hilarious women, who play the aunts of Billy, the Cripple of Inishmaan. They stress about living in Ireland in 1935, and with Crippled Billy who likes to read and look at cows. Then walks in the newsman, Johnny Pateenmike, who swears he has news to tell. However, he goes on telling neighborhood gossip first, which is just so hilarious that you laugh until you cry. He takes so long, that in walks Bill,.our star of the show, and our hero.
Crippled Billy as he is called in his hometown, is a unique character. When Johnny Pateenmike tells him the news that the people who are from Hollywood, America, are coming to Inishmaan, Billy actually pulls away from his book. He of course wants to go and make a man out of himself, and doesn't want to live on this island anymore because people make fun of him too much and call him Cripple Billy. Though he is not cripple, Daniel Radcliffe makes it so believable. In fact in one scene, when he finds out his love interest Helen McCormick ( Sarah Greene) and her brother, Bartley McCormick (Corner MacNeil) are taking a boat sailed by BabbyBobby (Padriac Delaney) to Hollywood, Billy sneaks to the boat first.
Amazingly enough, in this boat scene Billy climbs over the cliff wall unscratched and didn't fall. Even with one arm and shaky legs. The audience has gasps at this scene because of the worry that this might be where Billy falls badly. However, Daniel Radcliffe is spectacular at Billy and Billy is amazing at climbing. Billy survives the trip to Hollywood.
There is one particular scene where it seems as if Billy is really dying because of the TB he told Bobbybabby he had. Tears were coming out of my eyes, and they really do when it comes to any kind of movie/theater production. However, it turns out that Billy had acted during this entire scene, for Hollywood. It was his screen test, but when his body quivers and then silences, the audience almost wants to scream "NO!" Not only because it's Billy, but because seeing Daniel Radcliffe play dead is not happy thing to think about. That said, Billy realizes through his acting that his family is more important to him and goes back to Ireland to home.
His Family are waiting for him, watching a silent film, and Helen teaches Billy's friend Bartley (her brother) a lesson on Ireland verses England. She crushes eggs on to Bartley's head, and says now that's England, and you're ireland to explain the issues going on between Ireland and England during 1935. Its extremely commical, and Helen (Sarah Greene) makes you laugh so hard that you snort. Shortly after this, Billy comes back waiting behind the screen alive and healthy, though his aunts are furious in a loving way.
In the end he proclaims his love to Helen, and she at first being her mean and stubborn self, tells him no, it's never going to happen because you're a crippled. In the end though, she actually ends up saving his life because he was thinking about killing himself. She comes back, kisses him, and the curtain drops.
Daniel Radcliffe is amazing, I have watched him grow since 2001. From young Harry Potter to Allen Ginsberg and then to Billy, The Cripple of an Inishmaan. Billy was by far his best role, and it was his most enjoyable to watch. Somewhere in the play, I felt like I was in Ireland because of the beautiful set, music, and of course accents. Though he is also British, Daniel Radcliffe can do an amazing Irish Accent. Every bit of the character is believable, and when Billy the Character has to act his dying scene, you know that's when somebody's a good actor. Daniel Radcliffe as mentioned above does this well, as he not only has to think of his lines, but Billy's lines, and the lines, thoughts and emotions that Billy has to give to the director in 1935 Hollywood.
I strongly recommend that everyone see this play. It shows not only the difficulties that the aunts have to go through with the Great Depression and raising a child who is not theirs, who is with disability. It also deals with Billy's own issues of being an orphan, and trying to find love with his disability. He even wants people to start call him "just Billy" because he is tired of the name Crippled Billy. Then again who wouldn't be?
The message is simple hat love is unconditional and that even if you have a disability you still have people who care about you.
Not my photo, as you are not allowed to take pictues in the theater. , http://www.theartswire.com/storage/Cripple.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1398716661855.Note, I would not recommend this play for ages 12 and under, because there is some violence and the accents are hard to understand. However, it is really up to you, because the play on Broadway in New York until July 20th. Which is actually near Daniel Radcliffe's birthday, so if you get to meet him after the show, be sure to wish a Happy Birthday to him!
Note, he does do a meet and greet if their are two shows in a row, or something like the Tony Awards afterwords. Which was unfortunate for me, but Security was kind enough to pass out autographed he had signed to fans. So check the schedules, and I wish you luck!
Here is a link that will take you schedules, tickets.
Here's the autographed photo I got from Daniel Radcliffe on the Day of The Tony Awards.
http://www.crippleofinishmaan.com/
If you want to purchase t shirts, hats, or any other merchandise, you have to have cash at the theater. Or you can purchase online here:
http://broadwaymerchandiseshop.com/view/details/id/1184/for/The_Cripple_of_Inishmaan_Tee
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