How many times can you say the word Feck in a play? Well, if it’s an Irish play, there’s no fecking limit eh! No, but seriously, the third year WAAPA Acting students are currently performing the Lieutenant of Inishmore at Subiaco Arts Centre and it’s not to be missed. A dark-comedy written all the way back in 2001 by Martin McDonagh, who’s films you might recognise including the devastating Banshees of Inisherin (2022), In Bruges (2008) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).
The minute the show started I was transported into the home of Donny (played stoically by Daniel Halmarick), in the small Irish island town Inishmore, who’s berating silly teenager Davey (lovingly performed by Cj Ransome) for killing his son’s beloved cat Wee Thomas. Donny’s son Padraic, who’s appropriately nicknamed ‘Mad Padraic’, is played by Casey Stevenson in a powerful, convincing portrayal of a crazy, tortured man in the Irish National Liberation Army. One could say Padraic is truly, madly, completely in love with his cat and will stop at nothing to get revenge for the murder of his best friend.
The characters are disgustingly hilarious and devastating, with an unnecessary amount of gun violence that seems vulgar these days. The writing is fast paced and whip-smart, throwing the audience right into the middle of the action and always keeping you on the edge of your seat. If good writing is about not making your audience bored, then Martin McDonagh has achieved his aim.
A standout performance was Griffin McLaughlin’s character James, a young, hippy activist selling drugs to high school students to get a bit of extra cash. Astonishingly, McLaughlin spent half a scene tied upside down by his feet as he was tortured by Padraic and still managed to deliver his lines with full vocal strength and emotion.
Another character Mairead (passionately performed by Kate Cameron) was the only female character in the male-dominated play. She is a complex representation of a young woman finding her voice in a patriarchal Irish society and yearning to be a lieutenant alongside her hero Padraic. Yet unfortunately, due to the dated time of writing, she’s still reduced to her looks and objectified by the men. Despite this, her impact on the play cannot be underestimated.
The accent work was so great that my plus one was fully convinced the actors were actually Irish. He was visibly shocked when I told them they’re Australian.
Additionally, the special effects were equally impressive. I’ve never seen so much blood and gore on stage; it became almost comedic. There were other dead things… I don’t want to spoil it, which were so convincing the audience audibly gasped, so a huge props to Production and Design crew at WAAPA for a very impressive piece.
If you want to laugh till you cry, witness some top-notch acting and bloody brilliant special effects, get on down to the Subiaco Arts Centre to see The Lieutenant of Inishmore, running from 26 – 31 March, 2026.