Being a theatre enthusiast myself, thanks to my parents taking me to plays since I was little, I have come to care passionately about the arts. Since I started disability studies this year at CUNY, my awareness of how disability is portrayed in media and the arts has been heightened. I became aware of Martin McDonagh's play The Cripple of Inishmaan — which sounded quite Irish and being very proud of my Irish roots, I decided to see it with my father. I had heard that Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the films, was acting in the title part, that of  "Cripple" Billy Claven, so my interest was piqued.

The play is set on the small Aran Islands community of Inis Meáin off the Western coast of Ireland, where the community is excited to hear of a documentary being made about life on their islands. Billy, who wants to escape the gossip and boredom of Inishmaan, tries out for a role in the documentary and to everyone's surprise, gets his chance. The play, though written in the late 1990s, takes place in the early 1930s, so naturally the language lacks the sensitivity of today's standards. That is why Billy is commonly referred to as Cripple Billy, rather than by his given name. This is unsettling to our ears but it is an integrated part of the story, casting a light on a different time.      

Everyone in the play seems to pity Cripple Billy and they show it in mean-spirited ways often. We soon see that Billy, a teenage orphan with cerebral palsy with a gnarled left arm and leg, is the most mature character in Inishmaan.He has become used to people poking fun at his disability, tolerates it on some level (does he really have a choice?), and wisely comments near the end of the play, "Well, there are plenty [of people] round here just as crippled as me, only it isn't on the outside it shows." 

Even though Daniel Radcliffe does not have cerebral palsy, he did his research; as a theatre goer with cerebral palsy myself, I believe his portrayal was done with as much sensitivity as one would hope it would be. There is a larger issue looming whenever someone without a disability portrays someone with a disability — but this issue requires much more debate than we have space for here. The subject is briefly alluded to in the play when Billy fails his screen test and an actor is given his role: "Ah, better to get a normal fella who can act crippled then a crippled fella who can't fecking act at all."   

Inishmaan is a compelling tale told in the vein of a black comedy (a play that uses humor to make light of otherwise serious subject matter). Of course, Billy yearns throughout the play for a girl and as one might expect she will have no part of him and only pokes fun at him — this is a story arc that comes to a surprising conclusion by the play's end. Now at the tail end of its run at the Cort Theatre, which concludes on the 20th of July, The Cripple of Inishmaan is a worthwhile investment of your time to see, with superb acting by the entire cast. Nothing is cut from the play, as the text is just over 100 pages.

Another play based on a person with a disability will be at the Barrymore Theatre soon, so watch for it. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, based on a book of the same name by Mark Haddon, comes to life on Broadway in September. The story revolves around Christopher, an autistic teen, who falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor's dog; he then sets out to find the true culprit. While doing so, he is led to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever. Sounds like one not to miss.

It is very important that portrayals of people with disabilities are being done more thoughtfully now than they were in the past and it is gratifying to see it happening more and more. It is no surprise that stories about people with disabilities are being told more often since their lives are often creative and compelling. Art is a great tool in breaking down negative stereotypes and misconceptions and for creating deeper understanding — and dramatic theatre can do that best of all.