Dark Irish Comedy at Castle Hill
Castle Hill Players will present The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Pavilion Theatre from June 4, 2021, directed by Dave Went.
From the award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) comes a dark comedy, set on a small island off the west coast of Ireland.
It’s 1934 in the small Aran Islands community of Inishmaan when Billy, a crippled teenager, schemes to attain a role in a film. Tongues are set a-wagging when word spreads around Inishmaan that a Hollywood director is coming to the neighbouring island of Inishmore. Billy is determined to be cast, if only to break away from the tedium of his daily existence.
Johnnypateenmike (Dimitri Armatas), a loudmouth bore who insists on knowing everyone’s business, lives with his ancient mother (Annette Emerton), a craggy widow drinking herself to death - and who won’t go quietly! Kate (Jan Mahoney) and Eileen (Anna Desjardins) run the local store and have raised Billy since his parents died by drowning. Their love for Billy is real, although they also see Billy as a hopeless case… and something of a burden. Bartley (Toby Rowe) is very much dominated by his sister Helen (Aimee Honor-Eltham) who considers herself the prettiest girl in Ireland and her outrageous comments can peel paint off the walls! The Doctor (Steven Rowe) does his best to tend to the locals with care while Babbybobby (Jason Spindlow) is a quiet man who tends to his boat - and backs Billy’s scheme. Then there is Cripple Billy (Robert Snars), a sensitive young man, held back in life by physical disability and the restraints of parochial island life.
Other productions at the Pavilion Theatre in 2021 include Entertaining Angels (July-Aug), The Witches (Sept-Oct) and Unnecessary Farce (Nov-Dec).
The Pavilion Theatre is located within the Castle Hill Showground, adjacent to the new Metro Hills Showground Station. The entrance is at the lights located between Gilbert and Carrington Roads, Castle Hill and the Doran Drive.
Castle Hill Players present The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Dave Went June 4-26, 2021 - Wed, Fri and Sat at 8:15pm, Sun 4:30pm
Pavilion Theatre in the Hills Showground, Doran Drive, Castle Hill
All tickets: $25 Bookings: www.paviliontheatre.org.au or 9634 2929
Castle Hill Players accepts the Discover NSW Vouchers
Photographer: Chris Lundie.
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