There’s a favourite quote of iconic American dramatist, Edward Albee, that goes, “I think anybody who takes the trouble to write what we refer to as a serious play is holding a mirror up to people, saying: ‘Look, this is the way you behave, this is who you are. If you don’t like it, why don’t you change? To hold a mirror up to people, to communicate”.

Brilliant Irish playwright Martin McDonagh holds up a dark, all consuming mirror in ‘The Lonesome West’ (1997), the final work in his exceptional Leenane trilogy. The play tells the story of two brothers, Coleman and Valene, who fight impossibly and constantly with each other. Their behaviour is so appalling that it seems inevitable that one of them will do away with the other. There is only one person in the township that cares about them, and he is the parish priest, Father Welsh. Father Welsh has had little success in the township, succinctly described as the ‘accidental death capital of the world’, and is desperate to make some sort of positive impact on the brothers lives. In effect, he holds up the mirror to Coleman and Valene, begging them to change.

Arts Asia Australia, in association with B Sharp, are currently presenting a powerful re-staging of the play at downstairs Belvoir. Peter Carstairs, who up until now has worked as a filmmaker, the movie ‘September’ being his major credit, does well in his debut as a theatre director, working the intimate downstairs space well.

Carstairs wins strong, convincing performances from his cast. Toby Schmitz is frightening as the unstable, volatile Coleman. Travis Cotton portrays the aggressive but also more sensitive, religious and aware Valene. Ryan Johnson gives a striking performance as Father Welsh who is becoming despondent, and is trying to hold on to his need to do good. Sibylla Budd plays the shy, good natured local lass, Girleen.

Jacob Nash’s striking set with a large imposing cross placed, in the middle, against the black back wall, was very effective.

This is a hot ticket. You come out of the theatre feeling shaken like good drama is supposed to make you feel. ‘The Lonesome West’ plays downstairs Belvoir Street till September 13.