Continuing his transformation from the boy who played Harry Potter to bonafide theatre thespian, Daniel Radcliffe enjoyed a standing ovation last night for his debut performance in The Cripple Of Inishmaan on Broadway.

Daniel Radcliffe in the cripple of inishmaan Daniel Radcliffe in The Cripple of Inishmaan

Radcliffe stars as disabled teenager Billy Claven, who lives a sheltered life on the isle of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland. Ridiculed by his peers, Claven becomes an introverted bookworm until one day his life is changed forever after a Hollywood film maker sets up production on a neighbouring island. Claven is soon afforded the opportunity to trade in his simple life for the glamour of Hollywood.

Since finding fame with Harry Potter, Radcliffe has built an impressive stage career which has already seen him win awards in both the West End and Broadway. His latest performance further cements his transition from child star to a serious acting talent and the critics are taking note, As Variety’s Marilyn Stasio writes, in The Cripple of Inishmaan, “the grown-up teen idol turns in a warm, sympathetic performance as the sweet-tempered but broken-bodied “cripple”.

Sarah Greene and Daniel RadcliffeSarah Greene is starring alongside Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway

Indeed Radcliffe’s role is not easy and contains both mental and physical challenges, however the 24 year old actor seems to rise to the occasion and “plays Billy with a crafty mix of guile and vulnerability.” as noted by Entertainment Weekly’s Thom Gier. Gier also praises Radcliffe for refraining “from milking the disability for easy sympathy.”

Radcliffe, who previously played the role in London’s West End seems to have further developed his performance since his debut run last year. As Ben Brantley of the New York Times writes the performance now “feels even more full-bodied”, with Radcliffe delivering “his most satisfying stage work to date.”

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Of course it’s not just Radcliffe who makes The Cripple Of Inishmaan a success. His co-stars have also been praised for their work. Elysa Gardner of USA Today writes that “Before Inishmaan ends, you'll also be surprised, and moved, by these characters, whose arrival on Broadway proves well worth the prolonged wait.”

The cast of The Cripple of Inishmaan The cast of The Cripple of Inishmaan take their bows

For Radcliffe it does indeed seem that his latest Broadway endeavour might prove to be his greatest career achievement yet. Away from the magic and madness of Harry Potter, Radcliffe is ensuring that his acting career wont be held back by an iconic role. Instead he’s taking enough acting risks to grow as a performer and prove himself as adult. As Joe Dziemianowicz from New York Daily News puts it "Daniel Radcliffe has appeared naked on stage, but he’s never been as emotionally raw or as steady on his feet as he is now portraying Billy, a palsied Irish bloke who can barely walk in The Cripple of Inishmaan.”

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