The Weir, Whyndham's Theatre

Colin McPherson’s The Weir caused a sensation when it was first produced at The Royal Court Theatre in 1997. Now receiving its first major London revival, it is clear that the play has lost none of its poignancy, wit, or capacity to shock. Under the direction of artistic director Jessie Rouke, the Donmar Warehouse’s west-end transfer is a well acted, gripping, and beautifully staged triumph.  

Set in rural Ireland, the play centers around three downtrodden drinkers haunted by past events. The three boozers are interrupted by the arrival of an ex-comrade turned local businessman, and a new female resident fleeing a recent trauma in Dublin. In a solitary bar room we watch as the men compete for her affections with stories of the village’s mystical past.

With stories of past hauntings, the play is a modern ghost story that is striking because of its brutal reality and obsession with the moments, regrets, and mundane events that can haunt us through life. Despite some tomfoolery at the beginning, the play is made up of long monologues, mediations on half-remembered past events, and incandescent retorts. Despite the lack of action, the vivacious stories draw the audience into a murky world of regret, fear, and timidity. 

Maintaining the audiences’ attention with this level of intimacy is a herculean effort, and the performances are uniformly magnificent.  Ardal O’Hanlon is perfect at the hapless and timid Jim; Brian Cox is hilarious as the drunkard Jack, who is most poignantly haunted by past regrets; and Peter McDonald’s youthful Brendan is in constant danger of falling into the elders’ alcoholic and wistful traps. The outsiders also give strong performances. Dervla Kirwin effectively captures the pain of Valerie, while Risteard Cooper channels the arrogance and pain of Finbar’s success.

This by no means a perfect production. The first twenty minutes is almost farcical in its attempt to inject some humor into the play before the somber monologues. The pace is also plodding at times. Despite these minor issues, this is a gripping evening of theatre that forces us to think about our own ghosts that haunt us throughout our lives.