Summary

“The Recital” by Eimear Ryan tells the story of Grace, a Music Composition graduate, who gets a job as a barmaid, although she wanted to be hired as a pianist. Grace’s boss, Tim, always comments negatively on the clientele of the bar, but Grace likes them.

Grace lives with her sister Jen and her baby nephew Ruán. Unlike Grace, Jen was a successful pianist before having her child, but she decided to stay at home and raise Ruán. The two sisters learned to play the piano from their father, but Jen had always been more competitive and successful than Grace.

At the bar, Grace meets Liam, a politician, whom she is attracted to. One night, Grace plays the bar’s piano and Liam accompanies her with his voice. Afterwards, he compliments her skills and p...