'The Weir' tells of Irish hauntings that go beyond ghost stories at None Too Fragile

Irish playwright Conor McPherson's "The Weir" at None Too Fragile Theatre is a haunting drama, not primarily for its ghost stories but more for its characters' anecdotes of loss and regret.

Director Sean Derry has put together a winning cast of fine actors to play the four Irish men and one woman who pass time in a small, rural Irish pub. As the beer and whiskey flow, we're privy to their banter, peevishness, one-upmanship, antics and underlying sense of loneliness as the five gather for one evening for some warmth, companionship and comfort.

As the men add peat moss to the fireplace inside, the wind blows loudly outside, evoking an air of desolation outside.

Colorful characters include pub regular Jack, played to perfection by David Peacock, whose orneriness belies a deep emotional current that Jack reveals later. Quieter sidekick Jim, played by Brian Pedaci, is in his 40s and living with his ailing mammy.

The others are kind, sensitive bar proprietor Brendan (Daniel McElhaney), who we can feel is on his own as his absent sisters pressure him to sell part of the family farm, and the self-important Finbar (Doug Kusak), a realtor and hotel owner. He's the only one of the men who's made it out of their tiny village, finding his fortune in the town of Carrick.

Shaking up the pub's usual mix on this particular night is Valerie, a pleasant woman in her 30s whom Rachel Lee Kolis plays with emotional restraint.

Most of the men, having never ventured outside their rural area, try not to think too much about what might have been. Life seems to have passed them by due to wasted opportunities and wasted chances for love.

They're both stuck and lonely. But in an ironic running gag, these Irishmen can't stand it when German tourists overtake their small town and pub in the summer.

As they rag on each other at the pub, in mostly good-natured fashion, they reveal an affection for one another. The exception is the antagonistic, jealous relationship between Jack and Finbar.

As the evening progresses, the men swap spooky stories to try to impress a young woman who has recently arrived from Dublin. Their yarns are steeped in local legends, tales of fairies and ghost stories.

As each of these supernatural tales unfolds and gets a grip on us, we feel like we're holding our breath.

Playwright McPherson's mournful focus is actually everyday human loneliness. Sharing supernatural stories is an important ritual for the men to help break their solitude.

Peacock's Jack, in particular, has a keen self-awareness of his cantankerousness that is both funny and sad. He and the other men use plenty of colorful cursing in this play, which is for adult audiences.

When one character shares a harrowingly devastating story, it brings everyone in the pub back to reality. As a viewer, my heart was broken not just once, but twice, watching this beautiful play with quiet moments that say nearly as much as the characters' emotionally evocative confessions.

Despite the fantastical stories that the characters tell, at its core, "The Weir" is about letting audiences into one night of the emotional lives of people who feel very real. The beautiful rhythms of McPherson's writing and the truthful, bare performances by the cast make this show one we'll always remember.

This graceful play features a small pub set designed by Derry with a wooden bar and three stools, hanging Tiffany lamps, wooden tables and chairs, a pew-like bench on one side and an armchair by the fire. His cast is consistent with their strong Irish accents.

"The Weir," which McPherson wrote in 1997, is one of the playwright's early plays. It was performed in London that year and on Broadway in 1999. McPherson, who hails from Dublin, is a playwright, screenwriter and stage and film director. Akron's None Too Fragile Theatre, which typically produces one Irish play each year, has wanted to present "The Weir" for about a decade.

This second show of the 2022 season will be followed by David Ives' erotic drama "Venus in Fur" May 13-28 and a title to be announced Aug. 19-Sept. 3. Next will be David Mamet's sexual harassment drama "Oleanna" Oct. 7-22 and Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning " 'Night Mother" Dec. 2-17.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Drama: "The Weir"

When: Continuing through April 2, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. March 27, 8 p.m. March 28

Where: None Too Fragile Theatre, 732 W. Exchange St., Akron

Onstage: David Peacock, Daniel McElhaney, Brian Pedaci, Rachel Lee Kolis, Doug Kusak

Offstage: Conor McPherson, playwright; Sean Derry, director/set design; Margene Rannigan, stage manager/props design; Marcus Dana, lighting design; Tom Barnes, sound design; Louis Williams, board operator; Louis Williams and Sean Derry, set construction

Cost: $30

Information: www.nonetoofragile.com or 330-962-5547

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Irish drama 'Weir' haunting in emotional intensity at None Too Fragile