Photo Credit- Millie Pinkstone

Upon first discovering the concept of The Weir, I was intrigued- a naturalistic play about ghost stories seems almost like juxtaposition. It wasn’t until the curtain came up and the play silently began that I truly understood- and for the next hour and forty five minutes, I was captivated.

Before the actors had even uttered a line, the hyperrealistic set caught my eye. Every detail was intentional and beautifully crafted, from the doorway to the pictures on the wall. Every part served a purpose, and added to the solemn atmosphere of the play. The wooden hues, accompanied by the everyday clothing of the characters, further immersed the audience.

Whilst the cast was small, their stage presence could’ve enthralled an audience ten times bigger. Each character wove their personalities into their stories in a different way- from Valerie’s (Kate Phillips) tear-jerking tale about her daughter to the strangely comedic element of Jim’s (Seán McGinley) delivery, it was impossible to be bored at any point.

Brendan Gleeson’s portrayal of Jack was highly anticipated by many- and his performance left little to be desired. The second he stepped on stage, the audience waited with bated breath to see his interpretation of the character. Not many actors could handle the dichotomy of Jack’s darkly funny lines and his profound stories of loss and loneliness, but Gleeson did so expertly.

It isn’t often that a play (or any piece of media) can accurately embody real life- often, something unrealistic interrupts the narrative and the audience can no longer relate to the piece and its characters like they used to. However, the casual dialogue of The Weir resonated with those watching and brought us closer to the action, making us feel as if we were sitting in the pub with the characters without disturbing the serious subject matter.

Photo Credit- Rich Gilligan

Usually, I prefer more plot-based than character-based media, but this play is the exception. I felt that I could connect with everyone onstage- I felt pity for some, laughed with others, and understood the characters’ conflicts as if they were my own. As the storyline mainly revolves around the individual characters and their experiences, one could focus on each person’s story without being distracted by what-ifs and side-plots.

All in all, the performance delivered quality in every area, and left audience members thinking about the characters and their lives for the rest of the night.