"The Irish Repertory Theater’s superb revival of 'The Weir,' Conor McPherson’s haunting drama about strange occurrences and the comfort of sharing them with strangers, has returned for a summer run... In the cozy confines of a low-key Off Broadway theater, the play’s simplicity and subdued warmth may be easier to appreciate...An enticing production, which provides audiences an evening in very good company indeed."
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“‘The Weir’ proves to be a profound meditation on the twin themes of loneliness and community, told so theatrically that you’ll savor each peat-scented phrase. The trick is to get the details right, and the Irish Repertory Theatre’s revival, staged with sure-footed simplicity by Ciarán O’Reilly, is totally believable. From the inch-thick brogues of the actors to the neon signs on the walls of the barroom set, it’s as convincing as a deathbed confession.”
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"It is always remarkable to me when I find a play so gripping, only later to realize it was simply brilliant dialogue. This wouldn't quite be the case, of course, if it wasn't brought to life by an impeccable cast...Each player contributes to build a message that reaches far deeper into us than star power can. Although much of this play’s appeal is the chilling effect of ghost stories, the lasting impact is one of radiant warmth."
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"A splendidly evocative telling of McPherson’s elegant meditation on human fragility, loneliness and the power of the past... Director Ciarán O’Reilly keeps the pace moving and the action compelling. The acting is universally on the money, although Quaid seems to have not found the center of her character yet...'The Weir' ends with humor, for it’s humor that’s the grace that keeps us going despite loss and what could have been."
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"For the most part, it is easy to get lost in 'The Weir,' to feel as if you are sincerely looking in as a silent patron sitting alone in the back of the establishment...The play is ultimately uplifting in a way; it’s a celebration of the power of tipsy conversation in the middle of the night. But this celebration comes at the cost of mourning, and there’s a portentous undercurrent of fear and grief in 'The Weir' that has more to do with the souls we’ve lost than the apparitions they might become."
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"This show shines as a moving exploration of the balance between loneliness and community in rural Ireland...O’Reilly’s direction proves insightful in capturing McPherson’s characters’ powerful urge for sharing themselves with the community in the hopes of finding a more clear understanding of the world."
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"This production of McPherson’s award-winning play smiles with an easy accessibility and fluidity, but delivers a subtle, stark punch... In the hands of director O’Reilly and with the measured, beautifully balanced and powerfully understated portrayals by the ensemble, all elements combine to make this a memorable and poignant rendering of McPherson’s work."
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"'The Weir' is an utterly naturalistic play in which the unity of the ensemble – the ease of the characters' interplay of speech and silence — is vital. In this production the performances are damagingly uneven...It's not the revival of 'The Weir' I was hoping for, but the production is still adept enough to give a strong sense of how good McPherson's drama is."
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