The Weir, Conor McPherson's play of ghost stories told by the lonesome regulars of an out-of-the-way Irish pub, will close Nov. 28 to make room for Waiting in the Wings, which begins performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre Dec. 3.
Two of the all Irish cast will return home in Sept. Dermot Crowley will perform his last as Finbar Sept. 15. Brendan Coyle, the like-named bartender Brendan, will leave Sept. 19. Their replacements, respectively, are two Irish actors, Jarlath Conroy and David Herlihy.
Oct. 10, Jim Norton leaves the role of Jack. A British theatre veteran, Norton has also acted on such U.S. television shows as "Cheers" and "Frasier." His replacement has not yet been chosen.
Remaining with The Weir until the Nov. 28 closing are Kieran Ahern (Brooklyn Academy of Music's The Steward of Christendom) as Jimmy and Michele Fairley (Never Land, Oleanna) as Valerie.
The Weir opened on Broadway April 1, 1999 and is currently nearing its 200th performance. Attendance is generally in the 60 percent range. Although the play received no Tony nominations, The Weir has continued on through the summer, surviving a post-Tony slaughter that took two Best Play nominees: Not About Nightingales, which shuttered two weeks before its intended close, and the season's other Irish play, Martin McDonagh's The Lonesome West. On Jan. 14, 1999, The Weir received four London Olivier Award nominations, including one for Best Play. The nominations singled out Royal Court Theatre Artistic Director Rickson for Best Director and two of the cast members, Norton and Coyle, for Best Actor and Best Supporting Performance, respectively. The Weir took home two of those Oliviers, the Best New Play honor and Best Supporting Performance for Coyle.
McPherson has recently hit strong Off-Broadway with his plays St. Nicholas, starring Brian Cox, and This Lime Tree Bower, which closed Aug. 15. Both productions were hosted by Primary Stages.
For tickets ($60), call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. The Walter Kerr Theatre is located at 219 W. 48th Street.
