The Quiet Land, Bewley's Cafe Theatre @ Powerscourt

Des Keogh and Derry Power as Nashee and Eamonn, respectively, give totally believable performances, making the most in all aspects of McKenna's script, with Keogh inhabiting his character brilliantly, his voice and mumbling style - but always, always understandable - is something you would hear anywhere around the country. It also takes us away from any cliche accent. Both bring us through comic moments, making jibes at each other, bringing out the old, but warm, rivalry between them, alongside serious commentary, until the cool, autumnal evening conclusion, brought to bear by feeling and the subtle changes in time from Colm Maher's lighting design.

These elderly farmers live close to each other but off the main road, the town bypassed by the motorway. The idea of distance between them, not being next door, even isolation, is looked at well through events and simple comments during the play. Much has passed between them over the years, but recent events that have seen Eamonn just out of hospital after a blow to the head, his bandages peeking out under his peaked cap, are at the fore. He has spotted Nashee out on the hill at the style. The set by Andrew Murray conveys this excellently, there is not doubt as to where we are and what it is, a rustic thick wooded centre piece, with wire fencing, and the flowers and trees showing the signs of autumn, on which the truths of the past and recent times will emerge. 

There is a robustness to it, making it all seem everyday, but through the changing of subjects, and denials, and what is not said, or avoided, we know there is more, there is a coolness, something hiding underneath it all. There are some more rural themed topics that are given a mention, arguably done not so subtly as other aspects of the production, and perhaps don't impact on the main story, but it does give it the contemporary context that reminds us that these men, this drama, isn't set in the past, but in the here and now. There was a danger that as it moved through it sagged a little along the way from a story telling point of view, but in the last phase McKenna, aided brilliantly by Keogh, Derry and director Bairbre Ni Chaoimh, picks itself up well.

It is a perfect piece for lunchtime, or anytime, with a play that doesn't need to force anything onto us, and with the two central performances, the costumes just right, and that country set from Murray, it all works well. Not to mention Keogh continuing on top notch form.