This was a great show! The acting was wonderful and I find myself still thinking about the story line. Thanks for bringing it to town, UMS!

Opening night of The Cripple… was one of the worst theatrical experiences we have ever had! Our seats were in the first row center of the balcony, but for the whole first half we could neither hear nor understand most of what was said. Because there were many empty seats downstairs, we moved to a fine location for the second half; the problem didn’t go away. Even though we could hear more, we couldn’t understand much more than previously. We have been to Irish plays in Ireland, but never had so much trouble. The 3 women were especially hard to follow, but from even the others we caught some words but often couldn’t get the point. It might as well be in Gaelic!

wonderful play. so glad i was able to see it and bring my friends as well. poignantly funny. sharp.

After the idiosyncratically brilliant screenplay of *In Bruges,* I expected much, perhaps too much… but even without those expectations, I would respond to this production with ambivalence, at best. In fact I came close to walking out of it in the first act, which I cannot be said to consider very often at a major play production. True, the dark, mean comedy is good, but is it enough to carry a play? When it worked best it seemed to be working as a series of skits–not enough to merit an international tour. And the humor was based on such broad, almost embarrassing self-exoticization, I found it barely tolerable. I really am interested in knowing whether I’m really so alone in finding the whole thing more distasteful than anything else. Sorry.

Delightfully funny well acted theater. Do not miss this one!!

There is much laughter from the audience. The play is written to elicit laughs. But not everybody laughs, and if they do, it’s an awkward, embarrassed, and uncomfortable laugh. This is not a comedy. We’re looking into a community whose members are beastly to each other, self-centered, desperate, and pitiable. The crippled boy softens them – but only temporarily. Only his parents are kind and loving. But they are dead. What’s to laugh at here?

The point is that, if you don’t assume that this is a TV comedy, then you’re bound to feel uncomfortable.

And then, if you think about that, you wonder what the point is, what the playwright was up to.

Excellent production, fine acting, flawed play.

Many speeches were hard to make out.

If you think you’re prescient, you’re in for a surprise. If you think you can manage your emotions in public, make sure you sit next to people you know. If you think you’ve perfected the art of the penetrating, guttural insult, bring your notebook. The only excuse you should have for missing The Cripple of Inishmaan tonight or tomorrow is a funeral for which you are the honoree! -Clayton

I found this production of “Cripple” strongly acted from top to bottom. The actor who played CrippleBilly moved beautifully, and as with “Elephant Man,” was able to show the beauty of the person trapped inside a misshapen body. The store-setting looked hastily and cheaply painted to me, but that was my only reservation. Thanks to UMS for bringing this play and company for us to see in Ann Arbor.

Loved this play! So funny! The acting was spot on and the progression of the play really gives an extra feel of the rural life.

We were delighted with “Cripple…” It helped that we had attended the lecture/scene-demonstration at the Library the Wed. eve before, given by Martin Walsh, and one of the directors of the play (I don’t remember her name). We learned a bit about the background of the play and watched a bit of “Man from Aran” which was the movie (fil-um) at the center of the play. We are just so happy to live in Ann Arbor where treasures such as this are presented on a regular basis.

I know I’m a little late in leaving a comment but the memories are still fresh. I’m so glad UMS brought theater like this to Ann Arbor. Good to see something other than Kafka and Shakespeare. There is a whole world out there that I can’t afford to visit…Well no, we get to Chicago and Guthrie in Minneapolis…just can’t vault across the Atlantic like we did in our 20′s.