Faith Healer review: Aidan Gillen and Niamh Cusack shine in Abbey production of Friel masterpiece

... while at the Peacock, a staging of The Long Christmas Dinner provides enjoyable seasonal fare

Niamh Cusack, Aidan Gillen and Nigel Lindsay enjoy the audience reaction to Faith Healer at the Abbey. Picture: Ros Kavanagh

★★★★☆ 

Since Joe Dowling first directed Faith Healer at the Abbey Theatre in 1980, the play has gained the status of essential Brian Friel masterpiece – gone from Broadway flop to influential classic of Irish theatre.