The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Photo by Joe Williams.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore is a biting, dark comedy that makes quite a splash – most of it crimson. It is a theater event that needs to be fully experienced with all senses ablaze rather than merely describing it here. The production is indeed that visceral; a shockingly violent show that masterfully weaves in themes of humanity and the brittle Irish psyche in catch-your-breath plot twists. But since it falls–unto my lot, that I should write… and you should not… I shall do my best here. I can say it is gruesomely good.
… it is gruesomely good.
Playwright Martin McDonagh, an important voice in Irish theatre, has had a string of successes such as the Tony-nominated Pillowman and Beauty Queen of Leenane. People knowledgeable of his work are by now used to the acts of casual torture, raw emotion and both figurative and literal familial explosions. But with The Lieutenant of Inishmore, directed by Tad Janes with a fine sense of on-the-edge lunacy, the stakes are raised. The IRA has been ingrained in the Irish consciousness as a group in which to grudgingly take pride while overlooking its excesses. Similar to Brendan Behan’s farcical play, The Hostage, this is the IRA on steroids.
The first, best moment comes when Donny (Bob Herbertson) is visited by his neighbor Davey (Matt Lee), an aimless sort who has brought a dead cat into the house. Lights up and after a few beats, a lump of red matter falls out. “Eh, lost his brains, he did.” The verbal jousting begins as it is revealed what happened with wee Thomas (the cat), who killed him, and what to do next. The concern is the cat is the beloved pet of Donny’s quite unstable son. He is so mad that even the IRA kicked him out and he formed his own splinter group.
Donny’s son is Padraic (Jeff Keilholtz), a pistol-packin’ wacko who is interrupted from a bit of forced interrogation (recall the movie Saw) to find out that his cat is “doin’ poorly,” as his dad eases him into the situation. It is fun to watch the transformation as Padriac’s voice attains an inward, high-pitched squeak as he hears the news that his pet is in trouble.
Back in Inishmore, Donny and Davey very matter-of-factly try to stave off the dreaded encounter with Padraic by swapping in another cat. This one is a Calico that they try to make all black using shoe polish. There is great chemistry with these two actors, playing slightly skewed characters who are trying to make sense of their little world which has now exploded. Lee’s performance is very in the moment; a dolt who is caught up in the wave of insanity.
Padraic’s entrance is held up by Caitlin (Joy Mairead), a young, aspiring freedom fighter who holds him in high regard. She has the troubling hobby of shooting out the eyes of cows with her BB gun. She also has a personal quest of making Ireland free for all cats. Her rendition of The Patriot Game gives historical perspective to Ireland’s plight and the reasons Padraic started fighting.
Padraic comes home to find Donny and Davey passed out drunk, and then sees the replacement wee Thomas. The rest of the show is turbocharged with unexpected plot twists that include a bumbling threesome from the IRA splinter group (Jack Evans, Joe Jalette, Thom Huenger) who provide malevolent energy and a high body count. Jalette was especially animated with his smiling yet cruel manner. To the squeamish, please note that it is more funny than horrific, given our media-rich CGI exposure.
Janes’ cast had an interesting mix of accents – none similar as they would be if they all came from the same small island of Inishmore. But they didn’t fall into what I term the leprechaun syndrome; western Ireland has a distinctly lower, more guttural sound, and this was naturally spoken. The pacing was quick, as needed. Doug Grove’s lighting design complemented the nicely crafted rustic scenic design by Eric Beringhausen. Special effects shout out to the full production team as well as prop design by Devin Gaither. The gunshot sequences were especially effective.
Finally, the core of this show is the ensemble acting. We learn a lot about each character as we wait for the next person to fall. It’s the little things that are sometimes the most tickling. As Donny and Davey take turns putting shoe polish on the cat, Davey says “It smells so good. Do ever want to taste it?”
Running Time: One hour and 45 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
Advisory: Adult language, violence, and gunshots.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore is playing from April 11 to May 4 at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Tickets are available at the box office at 301-694-4744 or click here.
