Every now and again one sees something, in the theatre, that is memorable. This was the case with the Irish Theatre Players production of The Weir. They are to be commended – they got it just right. From the opening scene set in a country pub in Ireland the atmosphere was spot on. What is The Weir about, very little if you take it at face value but the whole gamut of human emotions and behaviour and the consequences if you delve. Like all Irish life it’s the minor keys carry the melody.

It is very difficult to hold an  audience in the palm of your hand when the script calls for an Irish restraint and this cast did it magnificently. The shuffle of the paper, the little cough, the uncomfortable twitch, the monosyllabic  reply were all worked  beautifully. Colin McPherson, the writer,  knows his Irish Pubs and as the evening broadens out and ‘the drink’ loosens tongues the various characters emerge. The man with the mammy “going rapidly downhill” for the last ten years. The local man made good who is fair game for a few malicious digs. The barman with the colourful vocabulary who is heart scalded from the sisters, the nervous young woman introduced into the male enclave and in the corner, behind his paper, ‘the strong man’ superbly played by Frank Glackin.

I liked everything about this production; there wasn’t a wrong note anywhere. The cast gelled  together well, the interaction was comfortable and assured and you could hear a pin drop with that really creepy story – good man, I could hardly breath!

I saw The Druids production of this play some years ago and in my opinion the Irish Theatre Players production was every bit as good and maybe even better for atmosphere, clarity, setting and most difficult of all – Irish restraint.

Congratulations to Pat Abbott. I have a great and urgent need now to get me to an Irish Pub in the hills somewhere – it has  been too long.