AFTER a break of over a year since their acclaimed performance of John Murphy’s, ‘The Country Boy’, the Cavanacarragh Players are returning to the stage at the end of this month.

They are presenting the darkly comic play ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ in Cavanacarragh Hall on April 30 and May 1 and 2.

The action takes place on the Aran Island of Inishmaan in 1934.

It follows the attempts of Billy Claven, the titular cripple, to journey to the neighbouring island of Inishmore, where an American film crew are making a documentary.

Billy hopes to escape the tedium of his life on Inishmaan and find glory and fame in Hollywood.

As we follow Billy’s odyssey we meet a host of fabulously comic characters; Eileen and Kate, Billy’s aunties; JohnnyPateen, the local gossip and his ‘drunken Mammy’; Helen, a spiky young girl with a penchant for breaking eggs, and the object of Billy’s unrequited love; Helens brother Bartley, an innocent but gormless young man, obsessed with telescopes and sweeties; BabbyBobby, a local fisherman with a kind heart, but a quick temper, and Dr McSharry, the local GP, who struggles to contain his exasperation at the antics of his patients.

The play was written by Martin McDonagh, who also wrote the movie, In Bruges, which starred Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.

The Cripple of Inishmaan was written in 1996 but had a hugely successful revival in 2013/14 on both Broadway and in the West End with Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame playing the title role.

The Cavanacarragh production is once more being directed by John McCann, and he is very pleased with how it’s shaping up.

“We’ve got a great cast, a mix of seasoned hands and some brilliant new talent. Everyone is working extremely hard and there’s a fantastic atmosphere at rehearsals. It’s a really funny show, but with a dark edge underneath, I think our audience is in for a treat.” ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ is on in Cavanacarragh Hall each night.

Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm sharp. Tickets £5 are payable at the door.