This 2006 play from Irish playwright, Conor McPherson, is currently onstage presented by the West End Players Guild, and if you're into Irish plays, this one's for you. This show also shares the same name of an old English poem that deals with the hardships of life, God, the devil and the afterlife. Cool, right?!
Sharky (Matt Hanify) is returning to his coastal hometown near Dublin after being let go from his chauffeuring job. Good thing too, cause his older brother Richard (Robert Ashton) needs some looking after -- another reason Sharky is heading home. Richard is blind, after hitting his head in a spill into a dumpster. Richard is also cantankerous and likes his drink, which sucks for Sharky because he's trying to give up the bottle. On Christmas Eve, no less. Richard has invited a couple of blokes over for a little poker -- Ivan (Charles Heuvelman), who's practically a constant houseguest, avoiding his own home life, and Nicky (John Reidy), who is dating Sharky's ex (awkward). Nicky shows up with a bottle of booze, and a mysterious Mr. Lockhart (Barry Hyatt). Sharky has some dark secrets from his past, and during a few moments alone between the two of them, it appears that this Lockhart guy seems to know everything about them. Turns out, the devil spends his time on Christmas Eve collecting overdue souls, and Lockhart is intent on collecting Sharky's. Really interesting premise -- a bunch of moonshine soaked Irish guys getting together for some Pre-Christmas cheer, and the Prince of Darkness shows up in a snazzy suit trying to get Sharky to "come through the old hole in the wall" with him. Spooky…
