Ed Spires’ set, capturing the shabby interior of an Irish cottage kitchen right down to its rutted floor tiles, seems a story in itself. Deirdre Alexander’s costumes — which for the past two summers have brightened the Musicals at Richter productions in Danbury — work here to capture the drab reality and wistful fantasies of people trapped in a forgotten backwater of Galway, where people watch reruns of Australian TV and dream of emigrating to a place where there are still jobs.

The story revolves around a dysfunctional family in which the fortyish spinster daughter, Maureen Folan, is trapped into spending her life caring for her aged mother, Mag. Sly, selfish and manipulative, Mag spends her days whining for attention, and systematically attacking and belittling her daughter as a way of keeping control.

Into Maureen’s life comes Pato Dooley, a shy and sturdy construction worker who has come back from London for a visit. Their encounter kindles the possibility of love and happiness Maureen had already given up on.

After Pato leaves for London, the question of whether their relationship has a chance depends on Maureen’s ability to prevent Mag from sabotaging it.

The cast is excellent. Vera Johnson is devastatingly and naughtily destructive as Mag, while Katie C. Sparer burns with tormented intensity as Maureen. Colin Lane radiates charm and decency in the role of Pato, and Glenn Peters mixes brutality, wit and naivete as Pato’s younger brother Ray.

If you like Irish drama, this is a great chance to see a production of New York quality at far lower prices. And although the actors are well coached in dialect, they are easier to understand than the New York original cast, which came direct from Dublin.

But you do have to remember that life is hard in Ireland, and like the weather, the mood is overcast with gloom. It would be nice if the sun were to come out, but miracles are in short supply.

(Performances of The Beauty Queen of Leenane continue through February 27, with evening and matinee shows spread from Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon. For ticket prices or other information, contact the Polka Dot box office at 203/333-3666).