Brutal, absurd, and darkly comic, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, the second play in Martin McDonagh’s Aran trilogy, turns a sharp eye toward sectarian violence and the fractured ideologies behind it. It is presented by the 3rd year Acting students at WAAPA for a limited season.
Through its exaggerated bloodshed and biting humour, the play strips away any sense of nobility, revealing a cycle where violence feeds only more violence, until meaning dissolves into chaos. It remains one of his most celebrated works, even ranked by The Daily Telegraph among the fifteen greatest plays ever written.
Award-winning director Anna Houston embraces the chaos with precision. Her experience is evident in the confident handling of tone, balancing brutality with biting humour.
The story follows Padraic, the unhinged leader of a nationalist splinter group, whose world begins to unravel when he discovers his beloved cat has been killed. From this premise unfolds a relentless spiral of bloodshed, interrogation, and darkly comic escalation.
The play embodies an agile Irish wit confronting tortured absurdity, where deep melancholy coexists with a buoyant humour and a quietly charismatic whimsy that ultimately prevail. In some fashion, it evokes a Tarantino-ism in its execution, not only in its blood, gore, and violence, but in the rhythm of the scenes: sudden eruptions, unreasonable reactions, and always that sliver of humour in it all.
The cast embody their characters wonderfully and are a pleasure to watch. As Padraic, Casey Stevenson entices with a playful boyish innocence coupled with a psychotic mania. Daniel Halmarick is a standout as Donny, bringing to life the older man with a timely and strong voice. He has such a convincing Irish accent that I had to question whether he actually was Irish.
Cj Ransome as Davey brings an awkward, uneasy energy, a man constantly pulled into situations far beyond his control. Katie Cameron as Mairead matches this intensity with a fierce and volatile presence, her own extremism cutting sharply through the action. Michael Kavanagh’s portrayal of Christy captivates, his eyepatch and distinctive mannerisms drawing the audience in from the start, carrying them through to a striking, memorable finish.
Griffin McLaughlin as James offers a quieter, more restrained counterpoint. Zack Rock as Brendan and Tom Kim Kelly as Joey round out the world of the play, both contributing to its tension and absurdity, each character another piece in the violence. The entire cast deliver brilliant, believable performances.
The production design, set design and special effects are tremendously well done. The single-room set, designed by Ruby Trevor-Mills, is presented without a curtain, enhances as an addition to the absurd hilarity of the subject matter. Seamless transitions of scenes as the stage darkened and props and sets were quickly moved by the cast.
The sound design and use of effects such as gunshots, flashes, exaggerated blood and gore, add to the theatricality. While simplistic, they were honestly unexpected and folded into the absurd hilarity of the play. Special mention to sound designer Jessie Nalder and the sound and SFX crew.
What emerges is a production that understands the delicate balance at the heart of McDonagh’s writing. It is violent, excessive, and often ridiculous, yet always aware of the underlying commentary.
The laughter from the audience comes easily, but it is never entirely comfortable. Working within its means, The Lieutenant of Inishmore is provocative and striking, a theatrical spectacle that feels both inventive and fully realised.
The Lieutenant of Inishmore is presented by WAAPA’s 3rd Year Acting students and runs to 31 March at the Subiaco Arts Centre. 180 Hamersley Road Subiaco WA 6008.
Tickets: https://boxoffice.waapa.ecu.edu.au/Events
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Photo credits: Stephen Heath Photography
