Dark Irish Comedy? ‘Lieutenant of Inishmore’ is darker than dark

By Doug Krentzlin
Special to The Examiner 10/10/08

John Lescault is Donny and Matthew McGloin is Davey in Martin McDonagh’s "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" at Signature Theatre through Nov. 16. — Scott Suchman ARLINGTON – The term “dark Irish comedy” is a redundancy of immense proportions. However, when it comes to Martin McDonagh’s 2001 play “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” which is receiving its local premiere at Signature Theatre, let’s just say that this is a really dark Irish comedy that those who object to excessive violence and bloodbaths should avoid like the plague. (Reportedly, there have been several walk-outs by older audience members.)

On the other hand, people who enjoy the films of Quentin Tarantino, John Woo and the Coen Brothers will probably have a bloody good time watching the play. Literally. As directed by Jeremy Skidmore, “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” makes the Folger’s gory production of “Macbeth” earlier this year look like a family sitcom.

The play begins with the discovery of a dead cat in the middle of a country road on the outskirts of a rural village in Ireland. Whether its death was deliberate or accidental is irrelevant. Wee Thomas was the childhood pet of Padraic (Karl Miller), a terrorist so unhinged and sadistic that even the IRA won’t have anything to do with him. Padraic is a very dangerous bloke to cross under normal circumstances, but as the old movie ad cliché goes, this time it’s personal.

Among the villagers caught in the crosshairs are Padraic’s father Donny (John Lescault), dim-witted Davey (Matthew McGloin) and a trio of bumbling hoodlums (Tim Getman, Michael Glenn and Joe Isenberg). There is also the additional threat of Davey’s teenage sister Mairead (Cassie Platt), a terrorist wannabe who has a crush on Padraic.

All of the actors play their roles with just the right amount of casualness and deadpan gravity that black comedy demands, with Lescault’s crusty, cynical Donny having the lion’s share of the funniest lines. (The cast also includes an amusing cameo by Jason Stiles as a drug dealer being tortured by Padraic.)

In light of the use of a straight razor as a weapon and the number of extremities that get hacked off during the show, Signature’s production of “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” gives the phrase “cutting-edge theater” a whole new meaning.

If you go
Signature Theatre’s production of “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” runs through Nov. 16
Venue: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: $44 to $71
More info: 703-573-7328; www.signature-theatre.org