By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
Joe McGrath, Aaron Shand and Christopher Younggren in the middle of a ghost tale.
Beguiling in its sincerity, disarming in its simplicity, the Rogue Theatre's subtle production of playwright Conor McPherson's portrait of Irish country life, “The Weir,” will connect with you on the drive home afterward.
Christopher Johnson as director makes the bold decision to trust the playwright's instincts rather than give the dialogue a more modern pacing and interpretation. First produced in 1997, “The Weir” is set in a community so isolated from progress, electric service has only just reached the village during fairly recent times.
In the play, a weir is described as a hydroelectric dam, presumably the one that brought night life and the outside world of radio programs to this little neighborhood pub where the play takes place, as three villagers, the bar man and a special guest gather to escape the stormy weather outside.
Amicably serving those rounds of draft beer and shots of whiskey is Brendan (Hunter Hnat), the youngest of the lot. Jack (Joseph McGrath), older and rougher, who owns the local car garage, and Jim (Aaron Shand), who works for Jack, are regular patrons.
Set to arrive a little later are Finbar (Christopher Younggren), a businessman and local who considers himself far superior to the other locals, and Valerie (Carley Elizabeth Preston), a single lass recently moved from Dublin. Finbar also considers himself Valerie's escort.
Before the evening is over, each of these four will be telling a haunting story or two from their own lives. But these tales are nothing like today's popular grotesqueries gorged with bulging eyes and popping blue veins.
These are ghost stories told acoustically, unplugged from any special effects, where the unexpected sounds of sharp rapping on a wall across the room can strike fear into a person's heart. Or the distant helplessness of a small child's voice coming across a crackling telephone line could be coming from beyond the grave.
To McPherson, these basic mysteries are an essential part of life. As necessary as oxygen itself. Without the mysteries, there would be no chance for happiness to stick its nose under the tent, crawling in to triumph over the sadness and loneliness that defines most of their days.
Instead of using conflict to create the energy that drives the action, McPherson uses hope. And Johnson as director catches that note in each of the actors to create a beautifully effective ensemble performance.
"The Weir” continues through March 14 with masked and socially distanced stage performances as well as a professionally produced, ticketed video version that can be viewed anytime through March 14.
Curtain for “The Weir” is 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, plus 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees, in The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd. All tickets are $42, students $15. For reservations visit www.theroguetheatre.org or phone 520-551-2053
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