''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' is a

black comedy Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discus ...

Martin McDonagh Martin Faranan McDonagh (; born 26 March 1970) is a British-Irish playwright, screenwriter, producer, and director. Born and brought up in London, he is the son of Irish parents. He is known as one of the most acclaimed modern playwrights whose ...

, in which the 'mad' leader of an

Irish National Liberation Army The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA, ga, Arm Saoirse Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group formed on 10 December 1974, during the 30-year period of conflict known as "the Troubles". The group seek ...

splinter group discovers that his cat has been killed. It has been produced twice in the West End and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

, where it received a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

nomination for Best Play. In 2014, ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' was ranked in ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

'' as one of the 15 greatest plays ever written.

Plot

In Ireland in 1993, the

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

peace process is taking its faltering first steps.

(INLA) man Mad Padraic is pulling out the toenails of Belfast drug dealer James, when he hears that his beloved cat, Wee Thomas, is poorly. He heads back home to the island of Inishmore, where he learns that Wee Thomas is not sick but has been killed. Padraic, a man considered too mad for the

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief tha ...

and sorely trying the patience of his INLA comrades, is intent on revenge. He kills four people and two other cats before Wee Thomas is found alive and well; the first cat was mistaken for him.

Characters

*Padraic: (Age: 20 – 25. Lead) *Davey: (Age: 17. Lead) *Donny: (Age: 45 – 50. Lead) *Mairead: (Age: 16. Lead) *Christy: (Age: 30 – 50. Supporting) *Brendan: (Age: 18 – 25. Supporting) *Joey/James: (Age: 18 – 25. Supporting)

Production history

;Original RSC/West End production ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' was first produced by the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2001. The production was directed by

Wilson Milam Wilson Milam is an American theatre director from Bellevue, Washington who works in the United States, UK and Ireland. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for Martin McDonagh's ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' as well as ...

. In 2002, the production transferred to the

Barbican A barbican (from fro, barbacane) is a fortified outpost or fortified gateway, such as at an outer fortifications, defense perimeter of a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Europe ...

, and then to the

Garrick Theatre The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, named after the stage actor David Garrick. It opened in 1889 with ''The Profligate'', a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, and another Pinero play ...

, before touring the UK. ;Original off-Broadway/Broadway production A new production opened

off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

at the

Atlantic Theater Company Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their actin ...

on 27 February 2006. The production received

Lucille Lortel Award The Lucille Lortel Awards recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre. The Awards are named for Lucille Lortel, an actress and theater producer, and have been awarded since 1986. They are produced by the League of Off-Broadway Theatre ...

s, including Outstanding Play and Outstanding Lead Actor (David Wilmot, tie)" ''The Trip to Bountiful'' Tops 2006 Lucille Lortel Awards"
broadway.com, 2 May 2006 with an

Obie Award The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

for Martin McDonagh. The play transferred to the Lyceum Theatre, on

where it ran from 3 May to 3 September 2006. The opening night cast included Jeff Binder,

Andrew Connolly Andrew Connolly (born 30 November 1965) is an Irish stage and screen actor and director. Biography Connolly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1965 and was raised in the Finglas and Ringsend areas. At sixteen years old he left school for a seven- ...

Dashiell Eaves Dashiell Eaves is an American actor. He lives in New York City. Theater Eaves began his professional career in 1993 at age nineteen when he joined the original American cast of the Off-Broadway percussion show ''Stomp''. Three years later he ...

Peter Gerety Peter Gerety (born May 17, 1940) is an American actor. He is best known as Judge Daniel Phelan in ''The Wire'' (2002–2008). Career Gerety is a veteran of stage, screen and television. In early 1992, he performed to critical acclaim on Broadway ...

Domhnall Gleeson Domhnall Gleeson (; born 12 May 1983) is an Irish actor and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, with whom he has appeared in a number of films and theatre projects. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from Dublin Inst ...

, Brian d'Arcy James,

Alison Pill Alison Pill (born November 27, 1985) is a Canadian actress. A former child actress, Pill began her career at age 12, appearing in numerous films and television series. She transitioned to adult roles and her breakthrough came with the television ...

, and

David Wilmot David Wilmot (January 20, 1814 – March 16, 1868) was an American politician and judge. He served as Representative and a Senator for Pennsylvania and as a judge of the Court of Claims. He is best known for being the prime sponsor and epon ...

. It was directed by

, who directed the original RSC/West End production. ;Subsequent North American productions ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' has also been produced: * Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 12 July to 4 August 2007. * GableStage, in Coral Gables, Florida, from 11 August to 9 September 2007 * Fusion Theatre Company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 25 October to 18 November 2007 * the

Alley Theatre The Alley Theatre is a Tony Award-winning theatre company in Houston, Texas. It is the oldest professional theatre company in Texas and the third oldest resident theatre in the United States. Alley Theatre productions have played on Broadway at L ...

, in the

Houston Theater District The Houston Theater District, a 17-block area in the heart of Downtown Houston, Texas, United States, is home to Houston's nine professional performing arts organizations, the Bayou Place entertainment complex, restaurants, movies, plazas, and ...

, from 25 January to 24 February 2008 * Curious Theatre Company in Denver, Colorado from 8 March to 19 April 2008 * San Jose State University's Hal Todd Theatre, from 25 April to 3 May 2008 * The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis from 17 September to 13 October 2008, where it was nominated for five

Kevin Kline Awards The Kevin Kline Awards were started in 2006, to recognize outstanding achievement in professional theatre in the Greater St. Louis area. The awards are sponsored by PTAC, the Professional Theatre Awards Council, and were named in honor of Kevin Kl ...

, of which it took home one. * The New Repertory Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, from 26 October to 6 November 2008 *

Jobsite Theater Jobsite Theater is an American professional theater company incorporated in 1999 and located in Tampa, Florida, United States. They are the resident theater company of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (formerly Tampa Bay Performing Arts Ce ...

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

in April 2009 *

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a regional theater company located in Berkeley, California. It runs seven productions each season from its two stages in Downtown Berkeley. History The company was founded in 1968, as the East Bay's first resident p ...

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emer ...

from 17 April to 24 May 2009 under the direction of Les Waters * Northlight Theatre in

Skokie, Illinois Skokie (; formerly Niles Center) is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, neighboring the City of Chicago's northern border. Its population, according to the 2020 census, was 67,824. Skokie lies approximately north of Chicago's do ...

, from 29 April 2009 to 7 June 2009, directed by B.J. Jones. This production featured special effects and props designed by Steve Tolin, for which he won the 2009 Jeff Award for Outstanding Achievement in Special Effects. * Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles from 11 July – 8 August 2010. The cast included

Chris Pine Chris Pine (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' reboot film series (2009–present), Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films ''Wonder Woman'' (2017) and ''Won ...

as Padraic. *A Contemporary Theater, in Seattle, in October 2010. *the San Jose Stage Company, San Jose, California, from 26 September to 21 October 2018. ;South America ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' was first produced in

Lima, Peru Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

at Teatro La Plaza ISIL, running from 24 April to 1 July 2008. ;Australia An Australian production ran from 30 September to 18 October 2008, at the Sue Benner Theatre, Metro Arts in

Brisbane, Queensland Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

. The New Theatre at Newtown in

Sydney, New South Wales Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...

presented the play from 24 April 2018 to 26 May 2018. ;West End revival 2018 ''The Lieutenant of Inishmore'' was revived from June - September 2018 at the

Noel Coward Theatre Noel or Noël may refer to: Christmas * , French for Christmas * Noel is another name for a Christmas carol Places *Noel, Missouri, United States, a city *Noel, Nova Scotia, Canada, a community *1563 Noël, an asteroid *Mount Noel, British ...

. The production is directed by

Michael Grandage Michael Grandage CBE (born 2 May 1962) is a British theatre director and producer. He is currently Artistic Director of the Michael Grandage Company. From 2002 to 2012 he was Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse in London and from 2000 to 2 ...

and stars

Aidan Turner Aidan Turner (born 19 June 1983) is an Irish actor. He played the roles of Ross Poldark in the 2015–2019 BBC adaptation of ''The Poldark Novels'' by Winston Graham, Dante Gabriel Rossetti in ''Desperate Romantics'', Ruairí McGowan in '' Th ...

as Padraic.

Awards and nominations

* 2006 Alfréd Radok Award for Best Play * 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play (win) * 2006 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - David Wilmot (win) * 2006 Obie Award for Playwriting - Martin McDonagh (win) * 2006

Best Actor in a Play (Wilmot) (nomination) * 2006 Tony Award Best Direction of a Play (nomination) * 2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play (Gleeson) (nomination) * 2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play (Allison Pill) (nomination) * 2006 Tony Award Play (nomination) * 2009 Jeff Award for Outstanding Achievements in Special Effects - Steve Tolin * 2009 San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor - Adam Farabee * 2009 San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Fight Director - Dave Maier * 2009 San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble * 2010 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Lead Performance - Chris Pine
ladramacriticscircle

2018 West End revival

References

External links

* * *
Review of British production

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lieutenant of Inishmore, The 2001 plays Broadway plays Comedy plays Plays by Martin McDonagh Plays set in Ireland Plays set in the 1990s Laurence Olivier Award-winning plays West End plays