A Behanding in Spokane

In a 2010 review published in The New Yorker, Hilton Als criticized McDonaghs play for its use of racist language and for what he described as stereotypical portrayals of Black characters. Als argued that the character Toby, played by Anthony Mackie, reproduced offensive caricatures of Black masculinity and that the play relied on racial hierarchy as a dramatic device. He further suggested that such roles reflected broader limitations faced by Black actors in the industry, who often had to perform stereotyped identities in order to gain wider recognition.^[5][6]

In a 2010 review for The New York Times, theatre critic Ben Brantley offered a mixed assessment of McDonagh's play, praising the performance of Christopher Walken in the role of Carmichael, and describing his portrayal as compelling and central to the production's appeal. However, he argued that the play itself was uneven and less successful than McDonagh's earlier works.^[7]

Walken was nominated for the 2010 Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play, the 2010 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, and the Drama Desk Award in the same category. The play was nominated for the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Play.^[2][8]

• ​A Behanding in Spokane​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• ​A Behanding in Spokane​ at the Internet Broadway Database