The Critics are wowed by Aidan Turner in The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Michael Grandage's revival of Martin McDonagh's dark comedy, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, opened at the Noel Coward Theatre to much anticipation last night. What did the critics think of this rare revival and its star, Aidan Turner?
The overall consensus was one full of praise, for the script, the cast and staging. The Guardian said that 'McDonagh's real gift, however, is for pushing a situation to its most brutal extreme, and being funny with it. This is Titus Andronicus played for laughs', continuing with praise for Aidan Turner, who takes a turn as Mad Padraic, with 'Turner is excellent as Padraic, and plays him not as some wild-eyed barbarian but as a man endowed with a demented innocence.'.
The Stage was also impressed with Turner's performance saying 'A white-vested Turner is impressive as Padraic, combining just the right level of charisma with a terrifying volatility and, underneath, something approaching sweetness'. Time Out pointed out new-comer Chris Walley as Davey should receive some special praise, saying 'In a uniformly strong cast, special praise should go to Walley. A virtual newcomer, he is excruciatingly brilliant as the bemulleted Davey, who meets each new indignity heaped upon him with an impressive mix of resignation and hysteria, both of which somehow conspire to rise in pitch as the show wears on.'
Overall it seems that this rare revival and Aidan Turner's West End debut has been received with open arms! Congratulations!
