Irish slang has this wonderful word: craic, pronounced "crack." Its several meanings include "gossipy banter" and "fun," which tells you all you need to know about what constitutes fun for the Irish.

A weir, on the other hand, is a dam in a river or stream. It's a place where a current is briefly interrupted, and that's what happens in Conor McPherson's plot-light 1997 dramedy The Weir. The current of life slows for a while so visitors to a rural Irish pub can tell and reflect on their own ghost stories. In her production at Tacoma Little Theatre, director Pug Bujeaud allows an unhurried pace. Garage owner and regular patron Jack (David Wright) arrives first and helps himself to a bottle of Guinness (the tap isn't working). Enter Robert McConkey as Brendan, the owner/operator of the unnamed tavern, followed by Jack's mild-mannered assistant Jim (Brian Jansen). They await the arrival of ladies' man Finbar (Gabe McClelland), who's been out playing welcome wagon for Valerie (Ellen Peters), a new renter from Dublin. Together, these five everyday folks drink, smoke, and tell spooky stories, and that's about it.

Read Christian Carvajal's full review of The Weir in the Music and Culture section.

THE WEIR, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Nov. 17, Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., Tacoma, $12, 253.272.2281

See Also

Calendar: Arts and Entertainment

Calendar: Music and Nightlife