The Lowry, Manchester – until Saturday 27th January 2018. Reviewed by Julie Noller
4****
To look at the set of The Weir upon on entering the auditorium you could be forgiven for thinking you were stepping back in time, it’s as if you are looking at the snug of 1960’s Coronation Street or indeed one of the many popular 90’s TV shows following the police force and local communities of Ireland.
The Weir written by Conor McPherson when he was only 25 shows incredible maturity and understanding of human nature for someone so young. However he himself says it was written in a rush with no self awareness. The Weir depicts an Ireland outside of the outskirts of Dublin, where youth has long departed, its stereotypical Ireland with heavy drinkers, storytellers, old people.
The whole play is set in that one lonely pub, over one stormy evening. The solid fuel fire must be fed by the patrons, each throws another turf on to keep the old pub and those within warm. Jack (Sean Murray) is our first character, you wonder if he’s the owner as he enters the pub struggling to shut the door against the raging stormy winds. He moves with ease turning on lights, heading to the bar, failing to pour himself a pint this is the first of many subtle touches of humour that draw you to each character. We discover he isn’t the owner as young Brendan (Sam O’Mahony) enters from behind the bar. The talk turns to where is Jim (John O’Dowd) with his horse betting system – to the audience its painfully obvious his winnings are not so great but to the storytellers sat in the pub they are of huge importance. Jack, Jim and Brendan never have and never will leave this town, the pub; it’s their security blanket anchoring them to this spot.
Unmarried and obviously lonely you wonder about their back stories, however the purpose of The Weir is not to think too much about the characters in front of you but to enjoy a slice of life in rural Ireland and listen to the stories, only Brendan doesn’t have a story he is after all the barman and we all know a good barman is a good listener. Discussions turn to tourist season when the Germans will arrive, how the locals don’t go to the pub to escape bad singing and guitar playing until the wee hours, poor Brendan abandoned by his old friends doesn’t need to say how lonely he is surrounded by many people who do not engage him in conversation. Theres talk of Finbar (Louis Dempsey) its twinged with jealousy, he’s married and successful, obviously happy. Yet why is he bringing a woman in tonight? Old men and old gossips, is Finbar really carrying on and has two women when they have not even one? We are introduced to young Valerie (Natalie Radmall-Quirke) shes quite exotic being from Dublin. She can’t speak highly enough of Finbar; the men all take delight in winding him up and he appears to fall for it, showing a side of his personality he’d obviously tried to lose but reappears everytime he’s with his old friends. Theres no Guiness in the pumps and as such Jack has to drink bottled ale, Jim is a slightly nervous character who likes a small one as well as the lighter ale. Finbar has more refined tastes, Brendan may have a small one, thinks about joining in and of course does join in. Valarie quietly listening to the many stories along with us the audience as I noticed the gentle changes in lighting after all it must be darker for a ghost story to work, full lighting isn’t scary its reasurring. Quite often theres an almost too long pause that makes you catch your breath the atmosphere in the theatre is electric and alive as we wait for the next story, will there be a twist in all these tales? Valerie sips her wine from her half pint glass, a sure sign that not many women frequent the pub. The ladies toilets are out of order, not yet fixed as the Germans are yet to arrive. The men despite protesting against a woman entering their man cave, they sense Valerie has a story. These men enjoy a story both telling and embellishing others stories. Finbar tries to downplay those stories but is it out of concern for Valerie or his own pocket? Valeries own story is heartbreaking, you feel her pain and just want to give her a hug. And then as quickly as they entered the pub for the evening, you realise that the night is over and everyone must return home. You also know the whole scene you’ve just witness will replay tomorrow not just on stage but that some lives replay the same scenarios again and again.
There is of course no twist in this tale for this is rural Ireland not Hollywood.
I love stories, I love characters and if I leave you with one tip it’s to simply enjoy The Weir. Don’t try to work the characters out, don’t look for twists. Just sit back and be the third barman (behind Brendan and Jack) listen, it’s often a missing skill in today’s fast and ready mobile society. You won’t be disappointed.