By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? *****

WHEN? Tuesday 11 November, runs through 6 December 2025 RUNTIME: 100 minutes (no interval)

Conor McPherson (The Brightening Air, Old Vic) adapts The Hunger Games which opens this week in London and this won the Best New Play Olivier in 1999.

• Read on for reasons including how Gleeson is spellbinding especially because he allows others to shine

Set in a country pub in Ireland’s County Leitram it begins with friends garage owner Jack and oddjob man Jim discussing their day with publican Brendan as they contemplate the arrival of businessman Finbar with Valerie, a pretty young ‘blow in’ from Dublin who has rented a house locally.

There’s a lot of drinking before the couple’s arrival and we learn that Jack, Jim and Brendan disapprove of the attention the married Finbar is paying the village’s attractive new arrival.

When the couple do arrive the scene is set for a series of essentially ghost stories as the wind whistles outside, a muted singing is heard trying to enter the bar under its door, the night draws in and the folkloric nature of the area’s storytelling is dived into.

Finbar encourages Jack (Gleeson from film The Banshees Of Inisherin) to tell the story of the fairy fort, essentially a ‘road’ spirits travel along, until he realises Valerie’s new home has been built upon it and the eerie events suddenly become more terrifying for her.

There’s good-natured banter between the men and the community spirit is certainly warmer and far larger than the ‘small ones’ they often order and we wonder are they trying to impress Valerie or, perhaps unintentionally, spook her?

The characters are rounded and we discover handyman Jim looks after an elderly ‘mammy’ and is looking forward to a little respite after dropping her off on a visit to an even older relative.

Part of the charm of The Weir is hearing these endearing locals talk colourfully and freely about their lives as we get to know them as Valerie does.

We see this production as it nears the end of its run, the nights are drawing in and Halloween has recently past. It’s the perfect time of year for this atmospheric tale to work its magic not least when Valerie decides to tell a tale of her own.

Gleeson is spellbinding especially because he allows others to shine and the supporting cast rises to the challenge with Tom Vaughan-Lawlor’s Finbar being especially comical.

A world away from the spectacle of The Hunger Games then but arguably with greater impact for it.

• Main pictures by ATG courtesy Facebook Tickets
• Have you seen a Conor McPherson show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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