Connor McPherson’s drama, “The Weir,” uses superstition and uncertainty to explore hope and regret when five characters find themselves sharing tales in an isolated pub on a windy Irish night. As the characters’ lips loosen with libations, they reveal more about themselves than they intended.
Performances of “The Weir,” a student-directed production offered by Catawba College’s Blue Masque Society, will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-24 in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus.
“The Weir” combines the Irish passion for storytelling with an innate human longing for an emotional and empathetic connection between individuals. Set within the secluded hills of Northern Ireland’s county Leitrum, the play transports theatergoers to a rural bar where four local men and one Dublin woman spend an evening drinking and telling ghost tales.
Student director Amanda Lederer of Sarasota, Fla., focuses on the theme of the old becoming new and the old Irish traditions of storytelling being revamped for a new generation. “The Weir” is entirely student-led, built, and acted. In addition to Lederer, other crew members include Meghan Schneider of Berlin, Conn.; Jeremy Konkol of Rieglewood, N.C.; Rachel Mehaffey of Leonardtown, Md.; Vaughn Pollman of Overland Park, Kansas; Claire Robinson of Houston, Texas; and Brittany Bland of Alpharetta, Ga.
Cast members include Chris Clowers of Whitefish Bay, Wis., as Brendan; Quinn McRae of Hendersonville, N.C., as Jim; Jordan Ellis of Shelby, N.C., as Jack; Zachary Roe of Hickory, N.C., as Finbar; and Robin Tynes of Asheville, N.C., as Valerie.
Tickets to “The Weir” are $5 for adults and $4 for all students and senior citizens. For more information contact the Catawba College Theatre Arts Box Office at 704-637-4481.