Review: Solid Performances fill Scena's THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN

Inishmaan is a dull town. How dull you ask? A fight between a cat and a goose is major news. So when Hollywood announces that a movie is going to be filmed there, it is understandable why some view it as a chance to escape the dreary town. And who can blame them? You'll find yourself relating to these characters with Scena's lethargic production of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan.

McDonagh is a master of dark humor. His 2001 black comedy The Lieutenant of Inishmore is one of the smartest, funniest and most politically astute plays I've seen. The same cannot be said for The Cripple of Inishmaan, and Scena's production sadly cannot overcome the inherent tediousness of the script. While it features some solid performances, the linear direction combined with McDonagh's hum-drum plotting dulls even his sharpest lines.

At its core, the play is about a boy named Billy, portrayed by Josh Adams, who suffers from a deformed hand and leg and lives with Aunts Eileen (Nanna Ingvarsson) and Kate (Jennifer Medenhall). The highlight of his day includes staring at cows while going to and from the doctor, and hearing the town's news from Johnnypateenmike (Matt Dougherty). For Billy, participating in a movie represents a chance to be known as more than "Cripple Billy."

Both the play and the production have several problems. First is McDonagh's script. It cannot decide what it wants to be or what it should focus on. There's plenty of potential with the characters, but we get the sense that McDonagh is using the tedious lives of the characters to make a somber point. These are people who won't see a better life, and he tends to relish that point. Why, though? That's what we're left asking.

Robert McNamara's direction takes a straight forward approach to the play, but it could be sharper. Some of McDonagh's best zingers aren't given enough of a chance to sink in, causing the audience to miss them.

This is best illustrated by the performances of Ingvarsson and Medenhall. Each gives sensible performances; however we can't help but feel that the humor in their scenes is lost. The emphasis is on the overall scene, where it should be on the dry wit in how each treats the mundane life of these sisters working in a store that only seems to sell canned peas.

One performer who is able to find and capitalize on the humor is Dougherty. His rich performance as the town's busybody, Johnnypateenmike, capitalizes on the character's thirst to know everything. He's able to find the dark humor McDonagh is known for. Dougherty's scenes, especially those with Mary Suib, who plays his mother, are the best in the show.

Adams also turns in a strong performance, but in a more somber role. As the titular character, his is the character with the play's moral dilemma. Conflicted by a physical deformity and ill health, does he leave Inishmaan for the filming or stay home? Adams is able to channel that inner conflict presenting Billy's struggle to be known as more than just a cripple.

The seedier side of Inishmaan is featured in the fiery performance of Megan Dominy as Helen. Whether giving the clergy or deliveryman a kiss or a peak, she's not without reproach. Dominy gives a no-holes-barred performance that's ideally suited for the character.

Earth tones are an appropriate choice for the color palate of Michael Stepowany's unit set design and Robert Croghan's costumes. They create a weather-worn, drab feeling which compliments the play's setting in Ireland's Aran Islands. It also helps us understand how a Hollywood movie could hold such an allure.

Overall, The Cripple of Inishmaan features solid performances. However, you can't help but feel that the material is rather fruitless. Many of McDonagh's works have been featured in DC over the past few seasons. Unfortunately, this isn't one of his better ones and Scena deserves credit for giving it their best.

Runtime: Two and half hours with one intermission.

Scena's The Cripple of Inishmaan runs thru November 29th at the Atlas Performing Arts Center - 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002. For tickets please click HERE.

Photo: Nanna Ingvarsson and Josh Adams. Credit: Jae Yi Photography

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