The Cripple of Inishmaan

Theatre goers should be flocking to the Jericho Arts Centre to catch this wonderful production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, written by Martin McDonagh. Over on Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe just finished a run as the lead character, the show having closed just yesterday. Fortunately for Vancouverites, the local run here goes well into August! So go see it when you still have a chance!

It's toted as a dark comedy, and there were definitely many funny moments, but I found it to be also quite dramatic as well. The story revolves a crippled young man who is trying to find his way out of small-town Ireland by means of a Hollywood film crew who come to town.

The actors of the Ensemble Theatre Company do an amazing job, and this is on par with anything I've ever seen at the now defunct Vancouver Playhouse. My only complaint is that their shows take place only during the summer months, it seems. Given an entire year to play with, I can only imagine the top tier caliber of work they would produce. That said however, I'm thankful that there is theatre happening in the summer when most places have gone dark until the Fall. And not just any theater, but GOOD theatre - stuff that I want to go out and see, and stuff that's well performed and well produced! Kudos to you, Ensemble Theatre Company (who have three shows running consecutively right now in addition to The Cripple of Inishmaan).

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening out at the theatre thanks to the wonderful actors of this show. The set design by John Bessette was perfect, and the lighting by Darren Hales worked wonderfully to help transport the audience from an Irish corner store down to the docks and all the way across the ocean to early Hollywood.

The Cripple of Inishmaan is on now until August 13th (alternating with The Normal Heart and The Duchess of Malfi) at the Jericho Arts Centre. Buy your tickets online!