Martin Mcdonagh's 'the Lieutenant of Inishmore' on the Stage
Workshop: Approach to Acting, ‘Lieutenant of Inishmore’
The characters of ‘The Lieutenant of Inishmore’ are first and foremost not intended to be portrayed in a realistic manner as convincing psychologically well rounded individuals. They are however presented in a three dimensional manner although they generally have one over riding drive in the play which motivates everything they say and do. They are so entrenched in this driving force that they are incapable of change and no matter what situations arise during the play their inner action never changes.
Workshop Tasks:
Scene 1, page 6 (From, Donny: He isn’t my fecking cat at all……. to Davey: Oh Jesus Christ, Donny! Not your Padraic in the INLA
Two Actors, Realistic Character Portrayals
Play the scene extract as realistically as you can. Underplay the characterisation & as you say the lines try to give them weight & depth.
Two Actors, Farcical Approach
Play the scene as though the main driver behind each of these characters is to keep Padraic happy and avoid problems. When they discover the implications of the dead cat their reactions build into a crescendo which should be matched by your playing of the scene physically & vocally.
Scene 6, Page 35 (From, Padraic: Tell me the fecking message now, ya bitcheen!
……………….. end of page Maired: …… Not ever?
Two Actors, Realistic Character Portrayals
Play the scene extract as realistically as you can. Underplay the characterisation & as you say the lines try to give them weight & depth.
Two Actors, Farcical Approach
Play the scene as though the main driver behind each of the characters is for Padraic to get information from Mairead about his beloved cat & for Mairead to convince Padraic that she is ruthless enough to join the INLA. Build the scene slowly into a crescendo which should be matched by your playing of the scene physically & vocally. Try to follow the stage directions closely & show the characters’
The characters of ‘The Lieutenant of Inishmore’ are first and foremost not intended to be portrayed in a realistic manner as convincing psychologically well rounded individuals. They are however presented in a three dimensional manner although they generally have one over riding drive in the play which motivates everything they say and do. They are so entrenched in this driving force that they are incapable of change and no matter what situations arise during the play their inner action never changes.
Workshop Tasks:
Scene 1, page 6 (From, Donny: He isn’t my fecking cat at all……. to Davey: Oh Jesus Christ, Donny! Not your Padraic in the INLA
Two Actors, Realistic Character Portrayals
Play the scene extract as realistically as you can. Underplay the characterisation & as you say the lines try to give them weight & depth.
Two Actors, Farcical Approach
Play the scene as though the main driver behind each of these characters is to keep Padraic happy and avoid problems. When they discover the implications of the dead cat their reactions build into a crescendo which should be matched by your playing of the scene physically & vocally.
Scene 6, Page 35 (From, Padraic: Tell me the fecking message now, ya bitcheen!
……………….. end of page Maired: …… Not ever?
Two Actors, Realistic Character Portrayals
Play the scene extract as realistically as you can. Underplay the characterisation & as you say the lines try to give them weight & depth.
Two Actors, Farcical Approach
Play the scene as though the main driver behind each of the characters is for Padraic to get information from Mairead about his beloved cat & for Mairead to convince Padraic that she is ruthless enough to join the INLA. Build the scene slowly into a crescendo which should be matched by your playing of the scene physically & vocally. Try to follow the stage directions closely & show the characters’