Valerie, played by Susan Dergoul (left), Brendan, played by Jason Watts (background), and Jim, played by Wayne Kruse (right), listen to Jack, played by George Nelson, tell a story in "The Weir" at Heller Theater.
STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World
Valerie, played by Susan Dergoul (left), Brendan, played by Jason Watts (background), and Jim, played by Wayne Kruse (right), listen to Jack, played by George Nelson, tell a story in "The Weir" at Heller Theater.
STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World
Artistic director Julie Tattershall's interpretation of playwright Conor McPherson's wee Irish masterpiece "The Weir" was intelligent, believable, engrossing and loads of fun, as have been many nights at this tiny playhouse.
When Heller presents a show as crackling good as this one, it's a benefit that the city-owned theater with a staff of two operates in a space not much larger than one's living room.
With 50 seats, a black box stage and a core group of devoted volunteers, the place has long excelled at presenting in-your-lap theater.
The warm, laugh-filled atmosphere inside Heller was in stark contrast to events across town Thursday night, where Mayor Bill LaFortune detailed his proposed city budget for next year, including a budget-saving move that might alter performing arts programs at Heller.
But leave it to Tattershall and friends to put aside yet another threat to its existence and stage a swell night of theater. Here's to hoping that LaFortune can make his way to see a good play there before anything drastic happens. While most probably will need to call and make plans in advance to attend this one, I'll bet a standing reservation in the mayor's name can be arranged.
He likely wouldn't be disappointed with McPherson's brilliantly written tale of loss and love, kindred spirits and Irish village myths.
The setting is a remote Irish town pub owned by Brendan, who remodeled a room of his large house into an intimate drinking establishment for he and his pals and the assorted stranger. Larry Latham's set design believably puts us in this pub.
We find Brendan (played by Jason Watts) pouring pints of Guinness beer and "small ones" of Irish whiskey to Jack (George Nelson) and Jim (Wayne Kruse) in this place where everybody knows your name, your nickname and everything else about you if you're a local.
Their conversation is easy, fun and unrehearsed, poking fun at each other with silly barbs and debates that have likely raged for years. But this day, their back-and-forth grows more animated when they learn that local real estate magnate Finbar (Edmund Chandlee) has sold a nearby home to a single woman (Susan Dergoul).
Finbar's giving Valerie a tour of the area, which includes the pub as tonight's destination -- and the natives are restless.
Valerie is attractive, a bit nervous and a bit of a mystery. But so is the whole area, apparently, as introducing her to the town means introducing her to some of the local lore, told in tales by Jack, Finbar and Jim.
The simple barroom chat soon becomes something increasingly spooky and a bit distressing in a work that's intended for mature audiences.
The drinking continues and loosens everyone's lips a bit more, resulting in Valerie delivering the most haunting tale of all. It's the kind of thing that no longer leaves anyone wondering why this pretty gal left Dublin behind for something close to the middle of nowhere.
Each person's story exposes some kind of great fear or grief, and they also become increasingly personal. There's an energy present in the tales that moves things forward to the present, though largely the stories are rooted in the past.
Nelson is in his element here, wonderfully creating in Jack a skeptical, meandering soul with a voice that seems to crawl up from a whiny moan to command the room. Kruse is also remarkably natural here as the tipsy Jim, and Susan Dergoul is a gem, politely listening to the men's stories and exchanging as good as she gets before ultimately releasing her own burden.
Chandlee and Watts are also good here, and a special mention goes out to the cast and dialect coach Richard Latty for effectively giving us Irish brogues that are believable and not always understandable.
Heller has been treating audiences to quality entertainment like "The Weir" for more than two decades now. Here's a glass of Guinness to two decades more of nights as delightful as the one that a nearly full house enjoyed Thursday.
Heller Theater's production of "The Weir" continues with an 8 p.m. performance Saturday, 2 p.m. matinee Sunday and 8 p.m. shows Thursday-Friday and May 10. Heller Theater is located at 5328 S. Wheeling Ave. Tickets are $5-$7 and may be reserved by calling 746-5065.
Michael Smith 581-8334
michael.smith@tulsaworld.com