Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL, will close on June 5 its extended run of The Cripple of Inishmaan, its 1998-99 season finale.

The Chicago-area premiere of Martin McDonagh's play about dreamers on an Irish-coast island, was to have shuttered May 30, but solid reviews and healthy ticket sales prompted the five additional performances.

Cripple of the Inishmaan opened April 28 at Northlight.

Tickets are $23-$36. Northlight Theatre is located at 9501 N. Skokie Blvd., southeast of Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie. For tickets and information, call (847) 673-6300.

* The story centers on the making of the 1934 film, "Man of Aran," shot by American director Robert Flaherty on location around Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands off Ireland's west coast. When the Hollywood director arrives, the people of neighboring Inishmaan, including physically disabled Billy, are aroused with dreams of escape from a provincial life.

Billy's Hollywood screen test and his return spark the village, and the drama, by the author of Beauty Queen of Leenane and Broadway's current The Lonesome West.

Northlight artistic director B.J. Jones' cast includes Martin McClendon (as Billy), Maureen Gallagher, John Judd, Ann Noble Massey, John Mohrlein, P.J. Powers, Rob Riley, Mary Seibel and Ann Whitney. The design team is Mary Griswald (set);Karen Kopischke (cotume); Michael Philippi (lighting); Joe Cerqua (sound).

-- By Kenneth Jones