Review: The Weir (Harold Pinter Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

London has seen no shortage of Conor McPherson shows over the past few months, with the premiere of The Brightening Air at the Old Vic, and the return of his acclaimed musical Girl From The North Country at the same venue. Ahead of next month’s world premiere stage adaptation of The Hunger Games, McPherson revisits one of his most acclaimed works, The Weir, taking on the extra task of directing it for the first time. Bringing McPherson to the world’s attention when it initially opened, would this story be as well-received this time around?

First seen in 1997, The Weir takes place on a stormy night in an isolated pub in rural Ireland as four men prepare for what they expect to be a standard evening of banter. This is disrupted by the arrival of Valerie, whom they immediately attempt to impress with their stories. However, they are not prepared for what she reveals when it is her turn to tell a story.

That synopsis may seem a little vague, and that’s probably for the best. If you have never seen The Weir before, it is best going in to the show knowing as little as possible - as I did with my visit. This is how the themes that emerge can land with the most impact. Immediately immersing you into the rural pub, McPherson delivers the art of patience and suspense in a slow-burning piece that begins innocently enough, but slowly bubbles away to reveal an intensity that will leave you with a lump in your throat.

It’s hard to pinpoint what kind of show The Weir is, as it blends multiple genres throughout. Largely a comedy to begin with, the humour is subsided for prolonged periods of time, but always coming back for the odd chuckle, with McPherson perfectly crafting the banter of these characters with witty one-liners. Elsewhere, ghost stories form a prominent theme, tapping in to aspects of both horrors and thrillers, while the main revelation from Valerie has all the trimmings from the very best dramas. The shifting between tones makes for an interesting and occasionally unsettling watch. I must admit taking a while to settle into the story, but it wasn’t long before it had captured me - and when it did, there was no going back.

McPherson is a great storyteller, so the stories the characters tell are themselves rich and vivid in detail. In the characters he creates in The Weir, we see a mix of depth and intrigue, revealing nuggets from their past while leaving much unsaid about what makes them tick - perhaps reflective of the pub quality where regulars may know parts of each others life, while others remain a mystery, McPherson’s choice to also direct this time means he can execute his vision for these characters and this story in ways that has never been attempted before, with some masterful choices brilliantly adding to the suspense of it. It is rare to see an audience plunged into complete silence, but, at its best, you really could hear a pin drop during this performance of The Weir.

Strong set design from Rae Smith fantastically recreates the pub, with great detail, furthered by a dark and gloomy lighting design from Mark Henderson. As the stories grow darker, this adds to the effect, with sound design from Gregory Clarke making it all the more atmospheric, particularly in the fine detail of the wind outside. The elements all blend together beautifully, matching the tone set by McPherson in his writing and direction, and making the stories told during the show all the more resonant.

Brendan Gleeson leads the cast as Jack, in a presence that is always commanding, even when his character feels slightly understated. There is a real captivating quality to Gleeson as a performer, with his distinctive voice lending a real quality to McPherson’s writing. Managing to bring a sense of mystery to his story and heart to his character, Gleeson lights up the stage throughout - given the fact he remains on there from the opening moment to the final second, it means the quality never dips at all. 

Owen McDonnell is a great go-between as pub owner Jack, acting as the glue that holds all of the other characters together, while Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is fantastically over-the-top in an eccentric turn as Finbar. Though he is the quietest on stage, Sean McGinley is a standout as Jim - getting some of the funniest lines throughout that prevents him from fading into the background. When it is his turn to tell the story, the unsettling and uncomfortable nature of it provides one of the most memorable sequences in the play, delivered excellently by McGinley.

It is Kate Phillips who really steals focus, however. Where all of the men get turns telling their stories, nobody could be prepared for Valerie’s, myself included. Perhaps one of the greatest monologues that has been written in theatre, Phillips delivered it exquisitely, with sensitivity to the subject and a refusal to be rushed, letting every single beat of the impeccable story come to life and land. Though Phillips shines before and after this sequence, it is her story that furthers the story and builds The Weir to a climax - she more than rises to the challenge, in one of the best performances I have seen in a while.

At first, The Weir may seem like a fairly ordinary show, but there is nothing ordinary about it. The way stories are told and genres are mixed gives it a rather unique style, with a shifting tone that could prove jarring elsewhere, but works effortlessly here. At its heart, The Weir strives to reinforce the need for human connection, delivering hope even at a time when it feels like having hope is a hopeless task. A show like this needs the audience to be invested in both the characters and the story - if they don’t react as the characters are and feel what they are feeling, it will not be a success. Thankfully, McPherson’s stunning writing and direction mean it never misses. A testament to the art of storytelling, both in the stories told throughout the play and the play itself, The Weir is one story you’ll want to hear in full.

The Weir plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 6th December. Tickets from https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/play/the-weir-tickets 

Photos by Rich Gilligan