American Repertory Theatre
 

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

by Harold Pinter
directed by JoAnne Akalaitis

March 6-27, 2004
at the Loeb Drama Center

photos - cast - synopsis - related links

The Birthday Party is one of the great black comedies of the twentieth century. First produced in 1958, Harold Pinter's study of menace and mystery in a shabby English boarding house has magnificently stood the test of time.

scenic designer Paul Steinberg
costume designer Gabriel Berry
lighting designer Jennifer Tipton
composer and sound designer Bruce Odland
sound engineer David Remedios
stage manager M. Pat Hodge

PHOTOS

 

 

Click any thumbnail for a full-size image. Photos: Richard Feldman.

CAST

Meg ... Karen MacDonald
Petey ... Terence Rigby
Stanley ... Thomas Derrah
McCann ... Remo Airaldi
Lulu ... Elizabeth Laidlaw
Goldberg ... Will LeBow

Order the poster!

SYNOPSIS

Stanley Webber is the only lodger in Meg and Petey Boles' seaside boarding house. One morning, while Meg and Stanley are bantering over breakfast, she mentions that two visitors are coming to stay for the night. Stanley immediately grows apprehensive, sensing imminent danger. His fears are confirmed when Goldberg and his partner McCann arrive. Meg announces that it's Stanley's birthday, and even though Stanley insists it is not, Goldberg demands a celebration. After a few glasses of whiskey and a game of blindman's bluff, Stanley's birthday party turns into a nightmare. Goldberg and McCann drag Stanley off to an upstairs room, and by morning they've rendered him a mute.

RELATED LINKS

ARTicles and Program Notes

Media Coverage

  • Boston Globe - ART's Party celebrates the Surreal - by Ed Siegel
  • Boston Globe - ART director celebrates simplicity in Pinter's complex Birthday Party - by Louise Kennedy
  • Boston Phoenix - After Endgame: JoAnne Akalaitis throws a Birthday Party - by Iris Fanger
  • Boston Phoenix - Vintage avant-garde - by Carolyn Clay
  • Patriot-Ledger - Rigby has long history with Harold Pinter - by Constance Gorfinkle

Order the poster by designer Burt Sun via the zazzle.com website!

 

The residency of JoAnne Akalaitis supported by Ted & Mary Wendell
Special support for visiting artists provided by Anichini Luxury Linens
Additional support provided by Clarke & Ethel D. Coggeshall

This page updated March 28, 2004
webmanager@amrep.org