Brad Armacost

RECOMMENDED

Life’s full of ghosts and their sad stories; some tales are otherworldly, others are awash with regret. “The Weir” captures a good sample of the supernatural, including stories that are frightening because they are all too real.

Irish bar man Brendan (Brad Smith) hosts country bachelors Jack (Brad Armacost) and Jimmy (Jeff Christian) for their daily pints o’ Guinness. When their small-town sharpie mate Finbar (Kevin Theis) brings newcomer Valerie (Sarah Wellington) around to see the sights, the four curry her favor by telling local spook stories, only to be seriously spooked in return.

The ensemble is on top of a tough script filled with demanding monologues. The actors goose the humor with nice, natural touches; Christian’s awkward pauses and over-long eye contact are genius. But the jewel of the evening is Armacost; his mundane  tale of love and life squandered is heartbreaking; his pain is very much of this realm. (Lisa Buscani)

Seanachai Theatre Company, 4626 North Knox, (866)811-4111, through October 3.