HAVE you ever had a clear and vivid memory of an event challenged by someone who was also there?

Human memory is frail at best. Like it or not, our recollections are filtered by our unconscious: painful episodes may be softened or even erased; things that speak well of us amplified; the shameful toned down.

This is the central theme of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer, first staged 30 years ago. Three characters recall their shared lives on the road – Frank, the Faith Healer, with his mysterious yet fallible gift, Grace his long-suffering wife and Teddy, Frank’s manager. Their recounted memories of the same events differ – sometimes trivially, at other times sharply.

This triangulation gives us a clearer idea of what really happened but, more importantly, also helps us understand better the characters in the play and their relationship.

Connor Byrne (Frank), Patrick Driver (Teddy) and Maggie O’Brien (Grace) bring great credibility to their characters and with director Philip Wilson (who is also artistic director at Salisbury Playhouse) deserve great credit for an excellent and memorable production.

This is a rare chance to see and enjoy a gem.