THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN Arrives at the Kirk Douglas Theatre 4/5

The Druid and Atlantic Theater Company production of Martin McDonagh's darkly humorous "The Cripple of Inishmaan" arrives in Southern California the first week of April for a four-week run at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. 

The darkly humorous piece, directed by Druid's Artistic Director and Tony Award- winner Garry Hynes, has been receiving critical praise as the production tours across the country.

Opening for "The Cripple of Inishmaan" is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 at 8 p.m., with performances running through May 1, 2011. A preview performance will take place Tuesday, April 5 at 8 p.m.

Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times called the production ". . .one of those rare and enchanted productions that will live in the memory of all who see it for years to come. . .‘The Cripple of Inishmaan' may very well be McDonagh's finest play." Don Aucoin of The Boston Globe said that "under the supple direction of Garry Hynes...the ensemble delivers bravura performances across the board." Peter Marks of the Washington Post said the play "is as gleefully vinegary as anything McDonagh has conjured." And Lawrence B. Johnson of The Detroit News called the play ". . .an authentic story of the human heart. . .in a touching and hilariously funny production. . . . "

The "The Cripple of Inishmaan" cast includes (in alphabetical order) Liam Carney, Nancy E. Carroll, Ingrid Craigie, Dermot Crowley, Clare Dunne, Laurence Kinlan, Dearbhla Molloy, Tadhg Murphy and Paul Vincent O'Connor.

The set and costume design is by Francis O'Connor, lighting design by Davy Cunningham, sound design by John Leonard and music by Colin Towns.

Set in 1934 on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, "The Cripple of Inishmaan" tells of the day when the local gossip, Johnnypateenmike, finally stumbles upon news that is exciting.

A Hollywood director is coming to the neighboring island of Inishmore to film "The Man ofAran" and there's a chance some of the locals will be hired. This chance at stardom interests Helen, the village beauty, her brother Bartley and even Babbybobby, but there is no one more eager to audition than Cripple Billy, if only to break away from his overprotective aunts and the bitter tedium of his daily life.

"The Cripple of Inishmaan" is part of an eight-city, 14-week tour of the United States, the biggest U.S. tour undertaken by an Irish company since the 1930s. This will be Druid's fourth visit to Los Angeles in just three years, having appeared at UCLA Live in 2008 and 2009. Martin McDonagh, whose play "A Behanding in Spokane" was presented last February through June on Broadway, received a 2006 Tony Award nomination for Best Play for "The Lieutenant of Inishmore." His play "The Pillowman" won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2004 and was nominated for a Tony Award in 2005, and he also received Tony Award nominations for "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" (1998) and "The Lonesome West" (1999). In 2005 he won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for "Six Shooter," and his first feature film, "In Bruges," won an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 2008, as well as the BAFTA Best Original Screenplay Award in 2008.

Garry Hynes founded Druid in 1975 and has worked as its Artistic Director from 1975 to 1991, and from 1995 to date. From 1991 to 1994 she was Ar-tistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Garry has also worked with the Abbey and Gate Theatres (Ireland) and internationally with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court (UK), and with Atlantic Theater, New York City Center Encores!, Second Stage, Signature Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York; and with The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She is the recipient of the 1998 Tony Award for Direction for "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" and many other theatre awards, including The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Award for Best Director and a Special Tribute Award for her con-tribution to Irish Theatre (2005).

Liam Carney, Ingrid Craigie, Clare Dunne, Laurence Kinlan and Tadhg Murphy are appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association.

Tickets for "The Cripple of Inishmaan" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or two hours prior to performances at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232.

 

 

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