Eastern Michigan University’s production of “The Birthday Party” opened at Sponberg Theatre on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m.
“The Birthday Party,” an absurdist play written by Harold Pinter and directed by Jennifer Graham, depicts 24 hours in the life of Stanley Webber on the day of his supposed birthday. Other characters include Meg and Petey Boles, the owners of the boardinghouse at which the play takes place, their neighbor Lulu and Goldberg and McCann, two strangers to the boardinghouse.
With a cast of unreliable characters, the show will make the audience question the truth. More questions arise than are answered, which forces the audience to make decisions without all the necessary information. By using language and mystery, “The Birthday Party” has deeper meanings than are originally obvious.
“I do believe there is something that you can take away from this play,” said sophomore Haley Jugowicz, who plays the role of Lulu. “It might not come right out at you first, but you will definitely come away with a lesson learned. You will not be disappointed.”
“[The play] will definitely make you question your morals and question the morals of the people you are watching,” Jugowicz said. “You will walk away with a new way of thinking.”
Niklas Casella, who plays Petey Boles in the show, said that he enjoys “how humorous it is, even in very dark and intense circumstances. The show is darkly humorous…but at times there are things that just make no sense at all.”
“This is a very cool and different show that will be like no other show that most people have seen before,” said Casella.
“The Birthday Party” will show on Feb. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and on Feb. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. The show is about two hours long with one 15-minute intermission. All showings are at Sponberg Theatre in the Quirk academic building. Tickets can be bought at the door, online or at the EMU box office.
