The Weir at Harold Pinter Theatre Review
Written by Becky for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This production contains swearing, death and use of alcohol
Around 28 years since its first staging, Conor McPherson’s The Weir begins its run at The Harold Pinter Theatre. With a West End debut for Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin), the funny yet also devastating direction and delivery brings to life some of McPherson’s finest writing.
Set in a local pub in rural Ireland, Jack (Brendan Gleeson), Brendan (Owen McDoneell), Jim (Seán McGinley) and Finbar (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) pass the time by sharing tales and banter from their different walks of life. When a new and younger female stranger Valerie (Kate Phillips) visits one stormy evening, stories are passed around initially to impress her, yet become darker and more intimate as the night progresses.
Gleeson’s understated performance of Jack is outstanding, offering affection and understanding amongst the dry humour he presents throughout. However, the ensemble around him is what makes the production flow flawlessly. Vaughan-Lawlor’s energetic Finbar acts as a class clown, adding superb physical humour to the play. Some of the biggest laughs of the night came from McGinley’s reserved Jim, cutting through moments of intensity with cracking one liners and impeccable comedic timing.
While haunting stories are passed around, Valerie feels motivated to share her own heartbreaking experiences of loss, which stops the rest in their tracks. Phillips’ monologue is agonising, and the most compelling moment of the show, and sparks some delicate moments of human connection.
Details are in abundance when it comes to the set. Rae Smith’s design, intended to spark nostalgia, does just that. The intricate attention paid to the pub setting is reminiscent of an old local pub we’ve all been to, with history demonstrated via photographs on the walls, relics on the shelves, and a cosy, homely layout. The unique realness of the set is rich and inviting, which is something difficult to achieve in an end-on setting, and helps provoke a unique intimacy with the audience.
On at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 6th December, The Weir is a remarkable return of McPherson’s modern classic text that is packed with captivating storytelling and framed with natural humour.
★★★★★
