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 Reflections on “The Weir”

 A spell-binding tale full of Irish brogues

 By: Lydia Gravell

The theatrical production of “The Weir” was a spell-binding tale of spooky supernatural yet comical folk stories. Set in an Irish pub, this play was a fitting choice for the Callan Theater. Due to the close proximity of the audience to the stage, the Callan Theater made it consequently feel as if you were in that Irish pub.

As far as plot was concerned, it was easy to follow.  Since there were only five characters for the play’s duration, confusing characters wasn’t a problem. The play is about four old friends from the Irish countryside reuniting at a bar. One friend, Finbar, had left to make his fortune in Dublin and returns with a new city friend of his own. This new friend happens to be a woman named Valerie, and Jack, Jim, and Brendan tell her all the rural folk stories. These ghostly tales only lead to Valerie, revealing an eerie story of her own!

The most impressive part of the play would undoubtedly be the set design. Every last detail fit with the desired mood of the play. It was an eerie, snug, simple, yet inviting bar, down to the last picture hun

“It was like you were sitting in the back of a bar...an eavesdropper on some pretty exciting and believable Irish bar stories”. Nick Paolilli

g on the wall. According to fellow play attendee Nick Paolilli, “It was like you were sitting in the back of a bar, like an eavesdropper on some pretty exciting and believable Irish bar stories”. The production and carpentry crew really showed their skills with this set and it paid off exponentially in setting the mood for viewers.

In addition to the set design, the actors’ Irish brogues added to the authenticity of the play. The lyrical accents allowed the audience to be completely engaged in the plot in a manner that wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Overall, this play was well worth the time spent to watch it. The actors showed a well trained expertise in bringing plot to life.  “The Weir” was a performance to remember.

Lydia Gravell, while going to performances on campus, also enjoys painting in what little free-time she has that Salem State doesn’t wrench out of her hands after classes.