With Halloween just gone the gap between us and the spirit world is
supposedly weaker than ever; scary. But whilst I may not believe in ghosts, I
am, like most of the 90s generation, a supernatural fanatic when it comes to
Harry Potter. Ron is undoubtedly my
favourite –and between us I’d have been a much better Ginny.
Consequently, I have bought tickets for Mojo (http://www.mojotheplay.com/).
Consequently, I have bought tickets for Mojo (http://www.mojotheplay.com/).
Rupert Grint, Ben Wishaw and Colin Morgan on stage, at the same time.
That is
truly a cast to start screaming about. Warning: nearly all the tickets have
gone to crazed female fans - most of whom I know.
But that’s not until November. Earlier this year I got my
Harry Potter fix watching Daniel Radcliffe in Cripple of Inishmaan. With Irish
stereotypes smothering the stage and “Cripple Billy” as the protagonist,
it’s probably one of the most un-PC productions the West End has produced since the 1960s. I, unusually, hadn’t bothered to read a summary before the curtain went
up and so was unprepared for the onslaught of heartbreaking hilarity. However, I
don’t think it would have been quite so enjoyable if I was expecting an outrageous
script. Martin McDonagh makes it impossible not to laugh, despite the fact it seems
more appropriate to cry. McDonagh usurps the Boggarts and prejudices society holds in relations to the Irish, the disabled
and female, male stereotypes by making them utterly riddikulus. The audience is laughing at Billy, but even more
so at themselves.
Cripple of Inishmaan follows Cripple Billy’s quest to
America to be a Film Star and his struggle to overcome the stereotypes
surrounding him as a cripple. He never really achieves this. The end is more of
a final acceptance that he will always be teased. However, it doesn’t mean he’s
loved any less. Though his two “Aunts” make fun of his aspirations, and believe
them to be unfitting for a country cripple, they love and care for him
devotedly. The bitter and biting Helen, Billy’s love interest, is downright
horrible, but in the end admits she likes him - for all her insults. Sarah
Greene acted the past fantastically, taking scornful pride to a whole new level.
Despite her violent physical abuse of other characters one can’t help but
like her. Billy’s incessant adoration of her is slightly pathetic, but redeemed
in that he does stand up to her occasionally.
Johnnypateen and his mammy added yet another aspect of humour. In her drunken bitter state, Mammy has some of the funniest lines and
is yet more miserable and more dependent than Billy. The Irish accents were
phenomenal; so good in fact I could hardly understand some of it. Hardly conducive
to a good performance you might argue, but it only adds to the general
confusion and amusement.
In all things concerning Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and
Rupert Grint, their HP past cannot be forgotten. Only this week I read an
article in my student newspaper, Exepose,
that Daniel Radcliffe will never escape the label of Harry; I disagree.
Radcliffe has proven himself to be a good actor. Yes, I will always see him stepping off
the Hogwarts Express in his too big robes, but that doesn't mean he has no diversity and subsequently can’t be
appreciated as a serious actor. Nonetheless, he needs to learn to cry. Remember
that scene in The Goblet of Fire where he dramatically and unrealistically sobs
over Cedric Diggory’s body? Well his crying in Cripple of Inishmaan was no
better. Onions, Daniel! If you can’t cry at the mere thought of Marley and Me
then onions will be better than forced sobs.
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