It was splendid first time in 1996, in last year's Young Vic revival and now, guess what, Martin McDonagh's pitch-perfect, pitch-black comedy is splendid all over again in the revival of the revival, overseen once more by in-form young director Joe Hill-Gibbins.
There's not an aspect of this four-actor production, which revels in McDonagh's earthy dialogue, that isn't superlative, engaging the audience so fiercely on press night that they were groaning along in sympathy and horror.
Maureen (Derbhle Crotty), the original 40-year-old virgin, lives with her malevolent mother Mag (Rosaleen Linehan) in a back-of-beyond Connemara village. The two women, curdled by isolation, are locked in a decades-old cycle of mutually assured destruction. When a final chance of love appears for Maureen, Mag goes all out to ensure she won't have to start making her own Complan this late in the day.
Linehan remains a revelation, squatting in her rocking chair in the kitchen like an evil Bagpuss, yet moving remarkably nippily whenever there's an ill-intentioned action to perform. Years of disappointment are etched into Crotty's face but the light of fleeting happiness is a bittersweet joy to behold. Unmissable. Again.
Until September 3 (020 7922 2922, youngvic.org).
The Beauty Queen Of Leenane
Young Vic
The Cut, SE1 8LZ
