Elizabethtown College Theatre Finishes the Year with Dark Comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan”

“The story is relatable. It’s about escaping the tedium of your life and trying to follow your dreams”, said Terri Mastrobuono, director of the upcoming Elizabethtown College production of “The Cripple of Inishmaan.”

Following the citizens of Inishmaan, a small Aran Island off the west coast of Ireland, “The Cripple of Inishmaan” is a dark comedy by Martin McDonagh. When a Hollywood movie crew comes to town to film “The Man of Aran,” locals including “Cripple” Billy Claven see the opportunity as a chance to escape from the boring life of Inishmaan. Cripple Billy, as he is referred as by almost everyone in Inishmaan, dreams of a life free from ridicule and harassment.

Senior Theatre major Anna Sorrentino said, “It’s a heartfelt story with a ton of comedy. McDonagh does a great job writing about the dark part of life while still being poignant.”

Sorrentino will be playing her last role at E-town as Kate Osbourne, one of Billy’s aunts that raised him.

Billy’s two aunts, Kate and Eileen, have a small shop where most of the story takes place. Towns folk come and go spreading rumors, bulling each other and causing a mess. It’s not only “Cripple” Billy that receives harsh treatment from the people around him. It seems that no one is safe from harassment, his differences are just more viable.

McDough also wrote and produced “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri” an Academy Award winning movie for Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Actress – Drama as well as three SAG awards. In his play “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” McDonag’s dark humor is full of  “quintessential and witty Irish humor,” said Mastrobuono. This Irish comedy takes its viewers to a small boring island full of horrible yet funny characters that show “Ireland mustn’t be such a bad place.”

This production will be the final full performance put on by E-town Performing Arts Department  for the 2018-2019 academic year. Located in the Tempest Theatre in Bossman Commons, the show will open Thursday, April 11th at 8 p.m. and run two weekends. Dates are April 11, 12, and 13, with a break for Easter weekend. The performance will resume on April 25 and 26. The final performance will be a 2 p.m. matinee on April 28. Ticket prices are $7 at the box office. Reservations can be made by calling (717) 371-1170 or by email.