From Martin McDonagh, creator of The Beauty Queen of Leenane and In Bruges, comes this gruesomely absurd (and absurdly gruesome) comedy of Irish Republicanism, rural isolation and the love people have for their pets. Read more …
When Padraic, a notoriously unstable one-man terrorist group, hears that his beloved cat is ill, he heads straight back to the small island he calls home.
But things are about to get very complicated indeed for the self-styled Lieutenant of Inishmore...We are offered a truly comic meditation on the crazed fallout of international politics.
It's a credit to director Mark Thomson that he's putting such essential work into the Lyceum repertoire where other theatres might fear to tread, and his production captures the full ridiculousness of McDonagh's vision.
With a play like this, which has little emotional substance and relies almost entirely on being hilarious to get it through the evening, you’ve got be superhumanly, side-splittingly funny. This production isn’t.
Bloodiness abounds in this laboured production of Martin McDonagh’s comic and absurdist take on rural Irish republicanism. There is enough in the production to bring out McDonagh’s comedy, but not enough to stop the script from appearing obvious.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore is a bold and often hilarious production, pulling no punches as it amuses and entertains throughout.
A comedy about republicanism, terrorists, and dead cats that’s more fun than it sounds.
This is a fine and entertaining evening’s theatre; not pretty, but furiously funny, and to the bloody point.
Bloody good fun, even if occasionally the laughter feels a touch uneasy.
Highly accomplished.
Love/Hate star makes Edinburgh debut in The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Royal Lyceum
Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh from Friday April 20, 2012, until Saturday May 12, 2012. More info: www.lyceum.org.uk
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