BWW Reviews: THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, The Noel Coward Theatre, June 19 2013

While he may hold the title role and have his picture across front of the programme, it is the entire ensemble cast that make The Cripple of Inishmaan this surprising - and funny - theatrical experience. And that includes Daniel Radcliffe, of course.

Set in a tiny island community in the Aran Islands, Martin McDonagh's wonderfully quirky script is performed beautifully from the off by Gillian Hanna and Ingrid Craigie, who play "Cripple" Billy's aunts. Their varied pace and fabulous vocal work give one immediate understanding of McDonagh's style. Add in Michael Grandage's exquisite direction and the fantastic dynamics between Inishmaan's various citizens make an initially simple story quite riveting.

The residents of Inishmaan are abuzz because Hollywood has come to nearby Inishmore in order to make a film (based on the actual 1930s documentary, The Man of Aran). The very pretty, if challenging to downright cruel and violent, Helen McCormick feels her looks ought to earn her a spot in the "fil-um" - the accents really are wonderful. Sarah Greene does an excellent job with a part that could easily become clumsy, and her egg work is of particular note. She is accompanied by her highly irritating brother, Bartley, played by Conor MacNeill who uses the repetitive script to create precisely the inane sort of character that Billy is surely trying to get away from, when he persuades Babbybobby to assist him to Inishmore.

This play cannot be surmised by its story, though. It's McDonagh's intelligent and often disturbing script that makes it fascinating and unique, especially when performed by such a talented and skilled cast. While at times Radcliffe might sound more English than some of the cast, this is unsurprising, given he is one of the only actors not to come from the Emerald Isle; Radcliffe has not taken on an easy job, but largely rises to the challenge. His physicality is consistently believable and looks very challenging to sustain. While at some points he could take his work further, his pitching of the character gels very well within the play as a whole. He makes Billy entirely understandable, even when he seems to be horribly in the wrong, and gives a subtle, earnest and thoughtful performance throughout.

The rest of the cast are also wonderful - Gary Lilburn shines as a rare voice of reason and morality, and Padraic Delaney gives a tremendously interesting, gruffly sensitive turn as Babbybobby. It is difficult to fault work of this calibre.

Alex Baranowski's evocative music set the scene without being as overbearing as much music in drama has become lately - here is a composer who understands theatre. Christopher Oram's set is striking and diverse, giving the production an understatedly realistic feel.

All in all, as unfortunate as it is that the Michael Grandage season relies so heavily on publicising well-known actors' parts in productions, if its excellent £10 ticket scheme exposes the next generation of theatre-goers to diverse and high-quality best theatre, then so be it. This is an excellent production of a brilliant script.

The Cripple of Inishmaan runs at the Noel Coward Theatre until 31 August 2013 and contains a scene of violence.

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