Review: The Weir

Review: The Weir | Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company | Denver, CO | Curtain Up | Gina Robertson

Sure, and I’m after seein’ The Weir down at the Savoy Theater in Denver, and was it a riveting, emotional ride? ‘Twas “a strange little evenin’” indeed! This is Conor McPherson’s play, produced by BETC, about telling ghost stories in the pub, with a cast of memorable characters set in rural Ireland.

Creative designers Tina Anderson (set), Sean Mallary (lighting), and Riley Anne Alvarado Martin (costumes) join director Candace Orrino in taking hold of McPherson’s well-known “aptitude for atmosphere” and set the tone in delicious detail, with flickering lights, a fire in the fireplace and a real wind blowing leaves in through the open door. It’s a stormy night, perfect for scary stories and friends enjoying “a small one” at the bar.

Ryan Omar Stack, Colleen Lee, and Colin Martin; Photo Credit: Michael Ensminger

The local regulars Jack and Jim have come round to Brendan’s pub to have a few drinks and catch up on the local news. In their banter, the personality of the area becomes familiar. This is a small town where they have lived all their lives, and the local real estate agent Finbar, a married man, has been escorting a “blow-in” about town. She is a newcomer from Dublin, a lady named Valerie who appears to be alone, buying a house with an interesting past. When Finbar and Valerie come by, they all set in to telling her stories about the town’s history and folklore.

The elements of pleasure in this piece line up like a fairy road, starting with the writing and leading down the craggy marsh toward the dialect and costumes, in a direct line along the coast to the wit and then the emotional delivery of the heavier monologues by these talented actors. McPherson has captured a particular class and genre of people in his dialogue as well as their long-standing relationships and history. From the moment Jack enters the pub, we understand how well he knows the place and the man behind the bar. When the other men and Valerie are assembled, it is clear this isn’t the first time they have arrayed themselves around a pretty lass, taking turns in making her feel welcome and trying to impress her.

Mark Collins, Michael Morgan, Ryan Omar Stack, Colin Martin, and Colleen Lee; Photo Credit: Michael Ensminger

The title of the play comes from the dam built across a nearby river, a familiar landmark but also a metaphor for what happens in the pub this night, when the emotions are held in check with friendly good humor and drink until they rise to a point where they spill over powerfully and threaten to wash it all away.

The foremost storyteller is Jack (Michael Morgan), a bachelor who knows a bit about the fairy lore around the local property Valerie has just bought. He’s a good-natured, happy drinker full of kindness and warmth, but the rivalry he feels toward Finbar has a basis in something that happened to Jack when he was young, a time when he could have made it good in Dublin, as Finbar has done, but chose instead to stay behind in their small hometown. Morgan’s monologue at the end, while not the saddest story told, is perhaps the most haunting because it encompasses his entire life and identity. The weight of it is evident in his eyes and his body as he offers his vulnerability to Valerie in a genuine effort to share her sadness in the only way he can. It is storytelling as a gesture of empathy.

Finbar is a younger, more successful version of the hometown boy, someone who went off to Dublin and came back as successful as any of them would ever want to be. Played by Colin Martin as a slick, stylish salesman with a lot of charm and a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He wants to be seen as a confident man with “an eye for the gap,” a man who knows how to handle people and how to make his way in life, but the scary stories bring terror to his face in a stark reminder that he’s as vulnerable as the rest of them, despite all his success.

Mark Collins as Jim is sweet and simple. He’s immune from ambition and the competitive nature between Jack and Finbar. He enjoys his simple pleasures and takes care of his aging mother, asking nothing from life beyond a few quid for a job well done and a pub to spend it in, drinking with his friends.

Valerie (Colleen Lee) is cool and bemused while the boys in the pub jostle one another to entertain her. She, too, has been in this position before and knows the part she plays in this dynamic. Somehow, the magic of the evening brings upon her a desire to share with her new neighbors the terrible story of why she left the city to come and live among the “culchies” out in the country. Her grief and torment are nearly too much to bear watching, it becomes a palpable and dreadful thing.

Brendan (Ryan Omar Stack) is the only one without a story to tell. He’s the comfort, the grounding element, someone to whom they all turn when the stories bring about a moment of discomfort, for he offers a friendly drink, a clean ashtray and a sympathetic ear. The Weir is appearing at the Savoy in Denver through October 4, but these tickets are mostly sold out. An additional matinee was added on October 3, selling fast. At the Boulder Dairy Center, there are two Thursday night shows with tickets remaining. Don’t miss this amazing show.

For Information and Tickets:https://www.betc.org/the-weir