WEIR /wɪə/ (noun): A low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow and often constructed to generate hydroelectric power.
In 1997 Conor McPherson, then an unknown 26 year-old playwright from Dublin, became an overnight sensation with the first production of The Weir at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The production was so successful that it transferred to the West End and Broadway, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play of 1999. It has since been voted one of the 100 most significant plays of the 20th century in a poll conducted by the Royal National Theatre.
The real question is “Why?” Five characters meet in a small pub (named The Weir) in rural northwest Ireland on a blustery evening. They swap stories that range from local folklore to their own personal brushes with the supernatural. The dramatic action is limited, plays in real time, and there isn’t much in the way of character development.
The answer is simple, yet stylistically complex. By removing the traditional constraints of arcing plot development as seen in most modern drama, McPherson has captured the very essence of contemporary Irish culture. He has deftly blended both the roots and history of the island with the progress and change necessary in the evolution of its culture. The Weir, both literally and figuratively, represents the generation of electricity and hence a certain “brightness” in the cold, windy, and harsh landscape of western Ireland. This brightness fosters community, with each character seeking their own connection to something larger than themselves, and, most importantly, beyond the reaches of the lonely darkness of night.
There are characters that represent the Ireland of yesterday and those who represent its future. And, perhaps most interestingly, those who stand in the present, unsure of where tomorrow will take them. Yet they all have one thing in common that binds them: experiences that transcend this life and touch on something greater, phenomena that defy mortal explanation.
Scott Jackson, Director - The Weir
On behalf of the South Bend Civic Theatre’s board of directors, thank you for attending today’s performance of The Weir. We’re delighted you’ve chosen to join others in our community to enjoy live theatre in our beautiful and historic facility in downtown South Bend.
You may already know that our “community theatre” thrives from the involvement of diverse members of the South Bend region. This certainly includes those of you in the audience. But it also includes our volunteers in the cast, the crew, ushers and folks in the concession stand. These are our neighbors from all walks of life—teachers, students, attorneys, writers, researchers, and more. Next year we’ll reach our 60th anniversary as a community theatre. Since 1957, being grounded in our community in this way remains one of our theatre’s hallmarks.
We depend on our community’s support—beyond the sale of tickets—to sustain our theatre, maintain our remarkable facility, and prudently compensate our dedicated and talented staff. With the active involvement and support of our board and staff, we are working diligently to strengthen our operations in order to enrich our community through live theatre for another 60 years.
At this time, we encourage you to lend your financial support to South Bend Civic Theatre. Please contact a member of our staff or board to learn how, or visit the “Support Us” section of our website (www.sbct.org). We appreciate your consideration of a generous donation to South Bend Civic Theatre.
Terry Bush, President - South Bend Civic Theatre Board of Directors
