Daniel Radcliffe has certainly come a long way from Harry Potter. The nation’s favorite young wizard tried hard to prove he was more than a promising child actor with starring roles in works such as the eerily gothic Woman in Black. The Hogwarts hero now takes the far-from-flattering title role in a quirky West End comedy.
The Cripple of Inishmaan, apart from being a love story and a picture of eccentric country life, takes a tangled, ironic look at how Ireland is depicted by the wider world and how it can turn that stereotype to its own advantage.
Radcliffe plays Cripple Billy, and has to hop around the stage with a dodgy leg, leant on a crutch with one arm twisted and useless. ‘Cripple Billy’ has a bad chest and is the object of casual mockery. He has never been kissed and has eyes reportedly as ugly as a goat – although I’m sure the legions of female fans would disagree.
The former boy wizard lends this disconcertingly cruel play a little heart. Radcliffe may not possess the most convincing Irish accent in Michael Grandage's vividly quirky ensemble but his honest, sensitive, understated performance gives you clear, touching access to the finer-grained spirit that sets the character apart.
Book your tickets for The Cripple of Inishmaan today and see the former Harry Potter star in action!