EUGENE, Ore. — The Student Production Association of Lane Community College takes on Harold Pinter’s “comedy of menace,” “The Birthday Party,” from November 9 through 19, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2:00 p.m., in the Blue Door Theatre, building 6, main campus, 4000 E. 30th Avenue in Eugene.
The Guardian claims that Harold Pinter "was the most influential, provocative and poetic dramatist of his generation." His subtle crafting of language and creation of "cryptically mysterious situations imbued with hidden menace" have had an indelible influence on the theatre as well as film and television since the 1950s. In "The Birthday Party" we meet a typical couple who run a seaside boarding house. When two mysterious visitors come to town, these unsuspecting characters begin to question what they know about each other and themselves. Pinter's skill at blending melodrama with sincere depths of emotional terror makes "The Birthday Party" an unforgettable experience.
The production is directed by Cullen Vance, a local theatre artist and musician who frequently works with the Bach Festival. Some know him as the “Live Looping Man” seen at many venues around town. According to Vance, “This is a show about power: the power we try to take, the power we give others over us, and the power of staying still. And though the language and behavior make less and less sense as the show sinks into absurdity, the moments and emotions between these characters still ring with truth. It is my hope that an audience member will recognize themselves in each character's life throughout the evening and maybe (just maybe) be better able to recognize and embrace the absurdity in their own.”
All SPA productions are now offered on a "pay-what-you-can" scale. All donations go towards theatre scholarships. Contact Brian Haimbach at haimbachb@lanecc.edu or (541) 463-5648 for information or to make reservations.
For accommodations to attend this event, contact the LCC Center for Accessible Resources at (541) 463-5150 (voice), 711 (relay), or -email AccessibleResources@lanecc.edu
For more information about Lane Community College:
Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer
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