Walked out of INISHMORE...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:22pm

If you walked out of THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, all I have to say is, "What are you crazy!?"

OK. Inishmore is probably one of the most fantastic and exciting plays (including Musicals) that I have seen in a long time - not to mention this season. While THE PILLOWMAN has a much darker auro about it, INISHMORE keeps you at the edge of your seat the whole way through. Audience members all around me had their eyes and ears covered, scared of what may happen next. Martin McDonagh has proved that you can create proper horrific tension without the use of string instruments repeatedly playing piercingly high notes.

The whole cast is pretty terrific. I saw an understudy fo David Wilmot, Brian Avers. He was pretty fantastic. I am not sure he was dark and menacing enough when he first appears, but his knack for comedic timing was perfect (especially in the scene where he find himself gun-to-gun with Alison Pill). And you actually do feel sort of bad for his character (whether or not that was McDonagh's intention, I don't know). Maybe it's more empathy than sympathy.

Peter Gerety and Domhnall Gleeson also prove to be a fantastic comedic duo (think Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, but Irish and funny) and David Wilson Barnes, Andrew Connolly, and Dashiell Eaves are also a fantastic trio. Alison Pill has the little boy-girl who could also does a perfect job as the love/cow-eye-removing-interested tomboy (although there were a few times she was hard to hear). She also has quite a nice little voice.

The set, lighting, and costumes are awesome, but the real stand out is Wilson Milam's directing and J. David Brimmer's fighting scenes. The Irish music, designed by Obadiah Eaves, is also hauntingly beautiful.

In all, I don't think I have laughed so hard in a while. The genius of the play is that Act 1 is never boring and never seems to be the "setting up the story and that's all" type (like Woman in White).

This show is definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach...or anyone who is a cat lover.

I highly recommend seeing this play. To be cliché - GO NOW FOR A BLOODY GOOD TIME!

(To anyone who gives a feck, we did rush and got ROW C, orchestra.)

ETA: Jeff Binder was also hilarious as the two-toenail-less, upside down victim of Padriac who spent most of his time doing vertical-horizontals.
Updated On: 6/23/06 at 01:22 PM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:26pm

I thought you were going to saw you walked out on it, and I was going to yell at you.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:30pm

Go back and see David Wilmot... he's amazing.

Glad you liked it. (Though of course I knew you would!)

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:34pm

This makes me want to see it again...

The elderly lady next to me was not as pleased with it, and let out a constant series of 'oh george this isn't funnys', and 'what did the cat ever dos'...and yet, even she managed to stay through both acts, so I applaud her!

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:40pm

I completely agree with you. It was definitely one of the best nights of theater I have had in a while.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 1:52pm

yay! It's always great to hear this show get good reception. I thought it was totally briliant.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 2:00pm

I love Brimmer. He's a great guy and did an amazing job with the violence.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 2:37pm

Oh, and the house looked pretty packed.

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 3:04pm

So glad to hear that about the attendance. Nothing against "History Boys," but in my opinion, this is far and away the best play on Broadway right now.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 3:16pm

Since i live in chicago I have no chance at getting to NY since I was there for spring break . Is it better than Pillowman cuz I adore that show?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 3:25pm

Love the play and loooooove David Wilmot.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 3:30pm

I'm so excited for this show- I'm seeing it this upcoming Wednesday's matinee.

[raulfan]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 3:32pm

That bad, huh?

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 4:15pm

Glad you enjoyed the show. This is one of the best plays I've ever seen in my theatre-going years.

And GirlForTartaglia: Enjoy the show on Wednesday, and PLEASE post a review.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 4:35pm

The show is great but Act 1 is a bloody mess. I am an avid fan and lover of Martin, esspecially after being in one of his shows. But act 1 of Inishmore is just to blah. I can understand why people would walk out. I understand it is all set up for act 2 but it gets rather ridiculous with how much repeated information. I understand that retelling information is an irish habit but i think it went a little over board.

Another problem or personal choice would be pushing 1.2 farther back in the act. That scene is so strong and the couple of scenes after it aren't so strong.

Also it makes more sense to see this if you are a cat lover. My friend hated cats and had no connection with the story she simply didn't care.

Dispite it's flaws the show is another GREAT piece of work by one of Broadway's terribly overlooked playwrights.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 4:39pm

I saw the show last night and as well, thought it was brilliant. Martin is a genious an I can't wait for another play from him. I thought that Domhnall Gleeson should have won the Tony for Featured actor. He was brilliant as Davey. His comedic timing was excellent. I was upset that Brian D'Arcy James had left the show already, but his part is so small that I didn't really mind.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:06pm

I'm just really glad Allison Pill is starting to get the attention she deserves. For a while she was canada's best kept secret. Hopefully she will go the Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling route and make it big in Hollywood.

Akiva

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:12pm

I saw twelve Broadway shows in the past three weeks all of which I've never seen before. Inishmore was the show that had the most impact on me. I have never been more affected by a stage show.

Amazing.

(The other shows, btw, were While there, I saw The History Boys (A-), The Wedding Singer (B+), The Color Purple (A), Awake and Sing! (A-), The Lietenant of Inishmore (A+), Sweeney Todd (A), The Drowsey Chaperone (A), Spelling Bee (A-), Stuff Happens (off-Bway, B+), Tarzan (C), and the rehearsal of the Tony Awards (A++++). Also an understudy rehearsal for The Phantom of the Opera but we only saw them do Act I.).

[DG]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:22pm

"Audience members all around me had their eyes and ears covered, scared of what may happen next."

Not to point out the obvious, but this might not necessarily be what some people want to experience in a theatre, no matter how brilliantly written.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 5:39pm

"Not to point out the obvious, but this might not necessarily be what some people want to experience in a theatre, no matter how brilliantly written."

When I bought the tickets online, there was a notice that said the show contained violent scenes and loud gunshots, etc. Also, in the theater lobby, there were notices up about the show containing violent scenes, etc. The people who saw the show had to know what they were getting themselves into.

[mominator]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 6:09pm

I just can not praise this show enough!! I do hope it has a very long run!

[mabel]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 6:18pm

I think the lobby sign also says something about the fact that "no animals are harmed during this show." Along with the slew of other warnings, there was some nail biting as I bought my ticket to see it the first time. Ahhh, and what fun! I saw it a second time and it was still wonderful, but it's one of those shows that just can't help but not have the same punch when you know what's coming. The first time around was some seriously exciting theater though!!

As great as Peter Gerety is, how amazingly funny would it be if they could get Brendan Gleeson in there to play opposite Domhnall?!?!...'twould be hilarious!!!

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 6/23/06 at 6:25pm

Piazza - Oh I shall! Although my reviews aren't that great lol, but at least I'm going into this show completely unbiased and unaware of the majority of the plot of the show. :)

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 6:34pm

BwayBaby - "Also it makes more sense to see this if you are a cat lover. My friend hated cats and had no connection with the story she simply didn't care. "

I agree. I was only joking about that (since cats take the road down South in the play).

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 7:53pm

I dont care for cats but I had a connection to the story. I just imagined it was a dog.