Reader Reviews
The Birthday Party (Duchess Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Perfect casting, impeccable staging, great performances, with a design that's spot-on.....but The Birthday Party still isn't worth all this talent. An over-rated play from Britain's most over-rated playwright. - 81.134.71.192) | 23 Jun 05 |
| Do you have plays that you see repeatedly? For me, this is one of those, and this is possibly the best production I've seen. For those of you who are baffled by the play, bear in mind that rather than tell a story, it aims to explore themes (manipulation, dominance, individuals vs 'the system') and create atmosphere. Also, for me it's always been a sort of compendium of just about everything theatre can potentially do - comedy, violence, menace, physicality, silence, quickfire dialogue, different dynamics, etc. There's even a blackout. It's as though the fledgling playwright was trying out everything in his box of tricks. The performances in this production are wonderful, bringing the most richness to this motley collection of characters I've ever seen. The set is as perfect a rendering of a seedy, run-down 1950s guest house as you could hope for. There are some nice directorial touches I've not seen before in this play. And it all combines to lift a play I've always loved to even greater heights. Such a shame that the theatre was barely half-full, and the run is closing early, in a sort of mirroring of its debut nearly 50 years ago. Both the play and this terrific production deserve better. It's nice though to see that it can still furrow people's brows to the extent that it does, judging from some of the comments here and ones I heard at the theatre. Nicer still to see that some of those a bit confused by it still recognise it as a good piece of work. - 194.82.50.2) | 16 Jun 05 |
| Can't really give mre than 3 stars for something that is very unsatisfying in its conclusion. Yes, very well acted but surely there should be more to help us understand. - 217.34.115.49) | 14 Jun 05 |
| As long as you don't expect any conclusive answers from the script itself, this is a very satisfying night at the theatre: in Lindsay Posner's perfectly pitched production, all of Pinter's pitch black humour and simmering menace comes across. The acting across the board couldn't be better: Henry Goodman is absolutely brilliant, as ever, and it is fascinating to watch an actress of Eileen Atkins' intelligence and integrity playing such a simple (ok, dumb) character. Such is her skill and humanity that she never once patronises Meg or makes her a grotesque...the result is funny, honest, touching, and a masterclass in performing. Even if the elusiveness of Pinter isn't to your taste, see it for the acting. - 195.82.123.181) | 04 Jun 05 |
| Consider this a truncated review, an oh-so slightly differing view from Hannah Kennedy's. Where I have to disagree vehemently is on Henry Goodman's performance as Goldberg. Rarely has sleaze been cultivated to such high art. His eyes glitter with a fever or madness that's been corralled into socially acceptable behaviour on the surface, the hurried way he moves through banal exchanges about his real name (Is it Nate? Is it Simon? Is it Benny?) reflect a man of many identities, probably many of which we really don't want to know. I thought he was evil personified -- dangerously charming, and the best possible party guest and master of ceremonies! - 81.154.107.188) | 26 Apr 05 |
| I attended the WOS outing to this play last night and was blown away by it. neither i nor my boyfriend had any idea what it was all about but it was still staggering. And it's elusiveness was the subject of much heated discussion in the bar afterwards (free drinks!) with other theatregoers and with the actors themselves. great evening - 82.69.37.108) | 22 Apr 05 |
