THE WEIR at the Irish Rep. Ghost Tales Told In a Small Irish Pub

The Irish Rep. is a tiny pot of gold amidst  larger B'wy & off B'wy theaters.  Dedicated to Irish writers and dramas, the Rep. has a long history of dleighting audiences with bliss & a taste for the blarney.  Some shows here are hits and some are miss.  THE WEIR is neither here nor there but somewhere in betwixt.  Set in a cozy pub on a cold, howling night where the locals make themselves quite at home (in a pub that is attached to the owners' home.)  The timeless setting could be present day, in a small Irish town or sometime within the last 100 years.  There are 3 local men who gather to gab, imbibe and commiserate.  The gossip on this night of howling winds, warmed from the glow of a wood burning stove, is sparked with talk of a new female resident. The women is expected to be brought to the pub by the married, local hotelier.  The bachelors conjecture whether an illicit rendezvous is implied.  As all 5 gather together, the drinks flow and the raconteurs regale each other with local ghosts tales.   These frightful tales are all banal. The mournful yarns are the real tragedies and missed opportunities for happiness that have befallen one another.  THE WEIR weaves an unhurried pace that will leave many feeling bogged down in the mire.  But, the enchantment of this Olivier winning play by Irish playwright, Conor McPherson, lies in the telling.  Those patient with the pace with be rewarded by the elegance & grace of its Irish charms.