The Birthday Party
As a director, explain how your design concepts would illuminate the themes and issues of your prescribed text.
‘The Birthday Party’ by Harold Pinter explores many themes and issues throughout the play through the dialogue and relationships of the characters. Some of the themes for example are the themes of fear and menace.
The theme of fear can be seen in the character of Stanley when we see a sudden change in his actions and dialogue between the other characters. For example on hearing about the arrival of Goldberg and McCann in Act One, Stanley’s mood suddenly changes from flirty and playful with Meg to worried and intrigued, even snappy at times. This can be seen in this contrasting dialogue:
‘Get out of it. You succulent old washing bag…What are you talking about?…I don’t believe it.’
Another example of Stanley’s fear can be seen in Act three in the interogation scene between Goldberg, McCann and Stanley. He seems extremely intimidated by Goldberg and McCann’s forcefulness and gets very confused quickly. This can be seen here,
‘Ug..gug…uh…gug…eeehhh-gug’
This quote seems to show the final breakdown of Stanley in front of Goldberg and McCann as if the fear has engulfed him and he has been over-powered by their strength of character.
Another theme shown by Pinter is the theme of menace portrayed through the character of Goldberg. This theme can be connected to the previous theme of fear, as it’s Goldberg’s menace, which creates Stanley’s fear towards him. This can be seen at Stanley’s breakdown when Goldberg is clearly the stronger character and forcefully pushes at Stanley with never-ending statements and questions, continually back up by McCann,
‘What do you think? Eh, boy?
What’s your opinion, sir? Of this prospect, sir?’
Goldberg’s menacing characteristics are apparent again in Act 2 in the actual birthday party scene. He seems to be controlling the situation and in a way feeding people on how they should be thinking and acting. EG. He seems to turn everyone against Stanley, emphasising his menace,
‘Right. Now raise your glasses. Everyone standing up? No, not you, Stanley. You must sit down.’
This turns all attention to Stanley and it seems that in my opinion Goldberg is being rather patronizing towards him.
In the final scene of the play Goldberg’s character then appears to be menacing not only to Stanley but also to Petey as he tries to stand up against Goldberg to keep Stanley at the B&B, instead of being taken into the unknown as such!
‘He can stay here…Leave him alone!’
Goldberg character only then seems to come out of his shell in public as he threatens Petey emphasising his menace and adding a chilling atmosphere,
‘Why don’t you come with us, Mr Boles?’
Goldberg’s use of Petey’s second name makes his statement impersonal and gives him a higher status to Petey, again emphasising the menace in the final scene.
If I were to direct some of these scenes including the themes of menace and fear, for example the interrogation scene, I would use many different dramatic effects. To create the theme of fear and menace on Stanley and Goldberg’s behalf I would have all lights dimmed apart from a white spotlight shining mainly on Stanley’s face and following wherever he goes, yet on Goldberg I would use a red coloured gelled spotlight on his entire body. This would create an image of Goldberg looming out of the darkness – in a colour usually symbolic to evil – over Stanley in a colour symbolic to innocence, therefore emphasising the menace. I would then have a the sound of Goldberg’s voice with a slight echo on it to make him seem more powerful compared to the normal and little voice of Stanley.
In the Birthday Party scene I would have faint music playing in the background throughout that would gradually get louder and louder building to when Stanley cracks in blind mans bluff when it would then drop to silence emphasising his fear. Also to emphasises this contrast I would have all the lights very bright and glowing through-out the party so that when there is the black-out the theme of menace will be felt in the audience as they themselves will be insecure in the darkness and not know what will happen next. This is similar to what the characters are feeling and therefore the themes once more.
In the final scene when McCann, Goldberg and Stanley are leaving, both McCann and Goldberg have a higher status than Petey, therefore I would have them, along with Stanley, dressed in suits, shirts and ties, yet Petey all scruffy, perhaps in a dressing gown. I would then have a sound effect to enhance the door closing behind them followed by a deafening silence. As they leave to emphasise Petey’s fear for Stanley and what he will tell Meg now he is on his own.
In conclusion, in my opinion Harold Pinter has been extremely successful in portraying the themes of the play through his characters. Also having thought about the direction of certain scenes from this play, it becomes apparent again just how clear the themes are in the dialogue alone.