⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Conor McPherson’s The Brightening Air, now playing at the Old Vic, is a rich, slow-burning character drama filled with dry Irish humour. Written and directed by McPherson and set in 1980s Ireland, the play takes place inside the living room of a family home inhabited by Stephen (Brian Gleeson) and his - not explicitly stated but clearly coded as - autistic sister Billie (Rosie Sheehy). A visit from their uncle, the aging and blind retired priest Father Pierre (Seán McGinley), and his housekeeper Elizabeth (Derbhle Crotty) prompts the whole family to gather at the house. This includes Stephen and Billie's older brother Dermot (Chris O'Dowd) and his long-suffering wife Lydia (Hannah Morrish) who is devastated to see that her husband has brought his teenage mistress Freya (Aisling Kearns) with him. Rounding out the ensemble of characters streaming in and out of the living room is Brendan (Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty) who works for Stephen and is owed money that does not appear to be forthcoming due to the family's adverse financial situation.

Set entirely in the slightly threadbare living room of a rural Irish home in the 1980s, Rae Smith’s realistic set design becomes a character in its own right, cluttered but never static. With its worn piano, mismatched chairs, shifting lamps and houseplants, the stage is constantly reassembled by the characters. A backdrop made up of several sheer screens layered in front of each other creates a greyscale image of the rural landscape beyond the house.

What makes The Brightening Air so absorbing isn’t a gripping plot or dramatic twists, though there are a few surprises, but rather its deftly written characters and the naturalism of their conversations. This is theatre clearly inspired by the works of Chekhov, grounded in realism while remaining distinctly Irish in its tone and delivery. The play unfolds slowly, often humourously, as we see different combinations of characters in the living room and learn more about their relationships through the conversations they have there.

The acting across the board is fantastic, but three performances stood out to me. Chris O’Dowd as Dermot has a deeply charismatic stage presence and delivers a lot of laughs throughout the play while also balancing this with his depiction of the character's unhappiness and use of alcohol to self-medicate his depression. Rosie Sheehy also delivers a really strong performance as Billie, the defiant youngest sibling, while Sean McGinley delivers a very funny performance as Father Pierre who has a bizarre character development in the second act that brings a great deal of comedy to the play.

The Brightening Air won’t be to everyone’s taste due to its character-driven, rather than traditional plot-driven, nature. But for those willing to settle into its rhythms, it offers a richly rewarding night of theatre.

The Brightening Air runs at the Old Vic until 14th June 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/the-brightening-air/