Adelaide Repertory Theatre. Arts Theatre. 3 Sep 2015
It is not surprising that this play ranks alongside the Beauty Queen of Linane as most often produced among Martin McDonagh's works. It is a neat little theatrical masterpiece cleverly balanced between poignancy and cruelty while funny on multiple levels.
The magic is in the McDonagh characters, who are as idiosyncratically Irish as praties over a peat fire.
The magic of this Rep production is in the casting.
Director Kerrin White's choice of actors simply nails it, and gives some little-known performers a chance to shine. This applies most specifically to Matt Houston as the eponymous lead in what is only his third production with The Rep. He establishes and develops the persona of the orphaned cripple boy with absolute conviction. It's a performance that sears into the memory.
But it does not stand alone.
As the story goes, Cripple Billy is both embraced and asphyxiated by the oddbods of the isolated community of the tiny Aran Island of Inishmaan. Thus, he is raison d'être for his two spinster aunts who run the local shop which, for some reason in 1934, is stocked almost entirely with tinned peas.
Seasoned performers Sue Wylie and Tracey Walker slap on the wrinkles and age up to fuss around in the quaint little microcosm wherein the only contact with the outside world comes in the form of Johnnypateenmike who trades snippets of overheard gossip for fresh eggs or whatever else he can snag and take home to his alcoholic old mum. Wylie and Walker make a lovely, quirky double act as the old gals with their daily banter covering the disappointments and anxieties of their limited lives.
Johnnypateenmike is a core character, catalyst to the grand getaway plans of the island young. He is not likeable but perhaps he is not what he seems. Dirty, scruffy old thing, he is the social media of the day and an essential part of the community. John Leigh Grey makes him larger than life. It is a vivid and fluent performance and an epitome of Irishness.
Eleanor Boyd as the boozy old Mammy shows just what a delicious gem one can make of a cameo role. She's very funny, as are the two youngsters of the production. They are still at school and they are talents which are definitely going places. Benjamin Maio Mackay playing Bartley, in a fancy school uniform which somewhat confuses as to what sort of school they may have on the island, is a vibrant onstage presence. His endless patter about sweeties is as lively and fun as it is important in establishing the narrowness of island life. Mary Rose Angley plays his sister, Helen and, oh, what a manic, mugging whirlwind of a lost soul she makes her.
Ben Todd plays a good, solid doctor in the middle of the general mayhem while Alan Fitzpatrick, a strong and simpatico young actor, is very lucky that as Babbybobby, he is the one cast member who does not have to keep trying to say Babbybobby and get it right.
But that name is one of the notes in the music of language which carries the play and the cast has worked hard to achieve the lilts and sways of the dialogue.
It's high marks to Kerrin for his tight direction and simple but effective sets and special marks to lighting designer Jo Topperwien for some good aesthetics and apt atmospheres.
The pace of set changes could be picked up a bit and accompanying music better balanced - but there's not much wrong with this neat piece of good theatre.
Try to catch it.
Samela Harris
When: 3 to 12 Sep
Where: Arts Theatre
Bookings: trybooking.com
