It was a risky business, holding the Irish premiere of Conor McPherson's play The Weir on the same night as the crucial Brazil/Holland match, but the Gate opened to a house that was full to bursting on Tuesday. This is probably due in equal parts to the quality of the production, which has been highly acclaimed since its very successful run in the Royal Court Theatre in London and also to the forward thinking of Michael Colgan and Marie Rooney at the Gate who had thoughtfully added a note to the invitations: "We look forward to seeing you at the opening performance . . . However, should any of you be keen football fans, we would like to advise you that (it) coincides with the World Cup semi-final. We trust that this information will help us avoid a flurry of last minute cancellations."
Wise words. It obviously didn't deter most, although there was a clamour for the TV to be turned on in the bar after the production was over to catch the final penalties. Big soccer fans who had obviously plumped for Conor's play at the expense of their World Cup viewing included Gerry Ryan with his wife Morah Ryan, and RTE colleague, Dave Fanning and his wife, Ursula Courtney.
A large posse of Conor's family and friends were there including his mother Clare McPherson and his sister, Margaret McPherson; friends Paddy Breathnach and Rob Walpole, director and producer of the film I Went Down, which was scripted by Conor (sister Margaret was looking good in an I Went Down T-shirt) and his girlfriend, Rionach Ni Neill. Actors who came to support Conor on the night included Liam Cunningham, who just ended his run in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Gate, and Aidan Gillan, who stars in Mofo, Jez Butterworth's film which was screened at the Galway Film Fleadh yesterday.