The Prodigal Brother at The New Theatre

Dublin, two weeks before Christmas, and it’s the eve of 'first night' for Boyd's American Brasserie.

Ollie Cavendish turns up with his girlfriend, Trish, to sample the fare at the new eatery, which is to be launched the next day by his more successful older brother Boyd, and Boyd's elegant wife, Lauren.

But the early bonhomie hides a multitude of hidden agendas as Ollie struggles to conceal a shameful decline in his fortunes, Boyd calculatedly keeps his true objective under wraps and Lauren hides her fear of Trish behind a rictus grin.

As the night wears on, the alcohol takes over and the laughs and teasing give way to suspicion, ugly revelation and resentment, culminating in a battle for Ollie’s soul that produces more than its share of losers.