Drama – Absurd, Comedy of Menace

 Hello, 

This blog is part of Thinking Activity on pre-viewing, while-viewing, and post-viewing questions and observations for the movie screening of 'The Birthday Party

Here you can watch Trailor of the Movie :-

Pre-Viewing Tasks

    Harold Pinter – the man and his works (Pinter, The Birthday Party)

Harold Pinter (1930-2008) was a renowned British playwright, screenwriter, actor, director, and political activist. He is considered one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century and is particularly known for his distinctive style dubbed "Pinteresque," characterized by enigmatic dialogue, pauses, and the use of silence to convey meaning

Pinter's plays often explore themes of power, identity, memory, and the breakdown of communication in modern society. Some of his most famous works include:

• The Birthday Party (1957): Pinter's first full-length play, which depicts a mysterious and menacing visit by two strangers to a rundown boarding house
• The Caretaker (1960): This play explores the dynamics of power and control within a dysfunctional family.
• The Homecoming (1965): A powerful drama that revolves around a family reunion disrupted by the return of one member's wife, leading to a complex power
•  Struggle Betrayal (1978): This play explores the complexities of romantic relationships and betrayal through a reverse chronological structure.

• Comedy of Menace: Whose plays are known so? Who termed it? What are its peculiar characteristics? How is it different from Absurd Theatre?

The term "Comedy of Menace" is associated primarily with the works of Harold Pinter, a renowned British playwright. The term itself was coined by critic Irving Wardle in 1958 to describe Pinter's early works, particularly "The Birthday Party" (1957) and "The Dumb Waiter" (1957).

Characteristics of Comedy of Menace include:

1. Atmosphere of Unease: Pinter's plays often create an atmosphere of tension and unease, where seemingly ordinary situations take on a sinister undertone.

2. Ambiguous Dialogue: Dialogue in Comedy of Menace plays tends to be sparse yet loaded with meaning. Characters often engage in mundane conversation, but beneath the surface, there are layers of ambiguity and hidden agendas.

3. Threatening Presence: There's usually a sense of menace or threat lurking just beneath the surface of everyday interactions. This could be conveyed through the presence of unseen or ambiguous antagonists.

4. Absurdity of Human Condition: While Comedy of Menace often deals with realistic settings and situations, it highlights the absurdity of the human condition. Characters may find themselves trapped in absurd or surreal circumstances.

5. Power Struggles and Dominance: Power struggles and dominance dynamics between characters are common themes in Comedy of Menace plays. These struggles often manifest through manipulation, coercion, and psychological games.

In contrast, Absurd Theatre, pioneered by playwrights like Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco, shares some similarities with Comedy of Menace but also has distinct characteristics:

1. Lack of Logic or Meaning: Absurd Theatre often features illogical and nonsensical situations, highlighting the absurdity of human existence. Dialogue may be fragmented, repetitive, or devoid of traditional meaning.

2. Sense of Isolation and Futility: Absurdist plays often convey a sense of existential dread, emphasizing the isolation and futility of human existence. Characters may be trapped in repetitive cycles or futile pursuits.

3. Breakdown of Language and Communication: Communication breakdown is a prominent theme in Absurd Theatre, with characters struggling to convey meaning or connect with one another. This breakdown often leads to absurd or nonsensical dialogue.

4. Minimalist Settings: Absurdist plays typically feature minimalist settings and props, focusing attention on the interactions between characters and the absurdity of their circumstances.

•  Explain ‘Pinteresque’ – Pinter pause and use of ‘Silence’ in the play: a particular atmosphere and environment in drama.   

"Pinteresque" refers to the unique style of writing and atmosphere created by the playwright Harold Pinter. One key aspect of this style is the "Pinter pause," where characters pause in their dialogue, often creating tension or uncertainty. Silence is used in Pinteresque plays to convey unspoken thoughts, hidden motives, or the underlying tension between characters. This creates a distinct atmosphere in the drama, where what is left unsaid is just as important as what is spoken, adding depth and complexity to the interactions between characters.

•  ‘The Birthday Party’ – an allegory of ‘artist in exile and other interpretations

"The Birthday Party" by Harold Pinter is open to various interpretations, including allegorical readings such as the portrayal of the artist in exile. Here are some interpretations:

1. Artist in Exile: One interpretation suggests that "The Birthday Party" can be seen as an allegory for the experience of the artist in exile. The character of Stanley, who is visited by mysterious figures from his past, could represent an artist who has been ostracized or persecuted for his creative expression. The sense of isolation and paranoia experienced by Stanley may reflect the challenges faced by artists living in exile.

2. Power Struggles and Authority: Another interpretation focuses on the power struggles and authority dynamics within the play. The characters of Goldberg and McCann, who intrude into Stanley's seemingly peaceful existence, represent oppressive forces that seek to control and manipulate him. The birthday party itself becomes a battleground where Stanley's autonomy is challenged by external forces.

3. Existential Dread and Absurdity: "The Birthday Party" can also be interpreted through an existential lens, highlighting the absurdity and uncertainty of human existence. The characters' futile attempts to make sense of their lives and relationships, coupled with the pervasive atmosphere of menace and confusion, reflect the existential dread experienced by individuals grappling with the meaninglessness of existence.

4. Loss of Identity and Alienation: Some interpretations focus on themes of identity loss and alienation. Stanley's inability to remember or articulate his past, coupled with the intrusive presence of Goldberg and McCann, symbolizes the erosion of individual identity and the alienation experienced by those who feel disconnected from their own history and sense of self.

•      ‘The Birthday Party’ as a Political Play with reference to Harold Pinter’s Noble Speech: ‘Art, Truth & Politics

Harold Pinter’s Noble Speech: ‘Art, Truth & Politics

"The Birthday Party" can be viewed as a political play, particularly when considering Harold Pinter's perspective on the relationship between art, truth, and politics as outlined in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech titled "Art, Truth & Politics." In this speech, Pinter criticized political oppression and the abuse of power, which resonates with the themes present in "The Birthday Party."

Pinter's speech emphasized the responsibility of artists to challenge authority and expose the truth, even in the face of censorship or suppression. Similarly, "The Birthday Party" can be seen as a reflection of the consequences of political oppression and the ways in which individuals are silenced or marginalized by authoritarian regimes.

In the play, characters like Goldberg and McCann represent oppressive forces that intrude upon Stanley's life, symbolizing the abuse of power by those in authority. The atmosphere of fear and uncertainty created by their presence mirrors the political climate Pinter critiqued in his speech.

Moreover, Pinter's exploration of language and the manipulation of truth in his plays resonates with his broader critique of political rhetoric and propaganda. In "The Birthday Party," the characters engage in ambiguous dialogue, reflecting the distortion of truth and the erosion of individual autonomy under oppressive regimes.

While – Viewing Tasks

•   Harriet Deer and Irving Deer’s article on Pinter's "The Birthday Party": The Film and the Play. (Deer and Deer)

Harriet Deer and Irving Deer explore the interplay between the film adaptation and the original play of Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party”. Their article delves into how reconceiving a play into a film can impact the dramatic experience it conveys. By comparing the film and play versions, they shed light on the expressive means available in each medium and how they shape the texture of the work. 

•    A comparison of the film and play versions of ‘The Birthday Party’ affords us a rare opportunity to gain insight into how a Reconception of a play into film may affect the dramatic experience it communicates. Mark the way Pinter treats the texture of the play.

Certainly! In Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party,” the texture of the play is intricately woven to create an unsettling and enigmatic atmosphere. Let’s explore how Pinter achieves this:

1. Ambiguity and Uncertainty: Pinter masterfully employs ambiguity in both the play and the film. The characters’ motivations, relationships, and even the central event (the birthday party) remain shrouded in mystery. This deliberate lack of clarity heightens tension and keeps the audience guessing.

2. Sparse Dialogue: Pinter’s dialogue is sparse, yet pregnant with meaning. Characters often speak in elliptical phrases, leaving gaps for interpretation. The pauses and silences become as significant as the spoken words. In the film, these pregnant pauses are visually emphasized, adding to the overall texture.

3. Repetition and Ritual: The repetition of phrases and actions creates a sense of ritualistic monotony. The mundane routines—such as the breakfast scene or the party preparations—become eerily significant. The film captures these repetitive moments, emphasizing their monotony and underlying tension.

4. Intrusion of the Outside World: The arrival of two mysterious men disrupts the isolated world of the boarding house. Their intrusion introduces an element of menace. Pinter uses this intrusion to unsettle the audience, and the film amplifies this effect through visual cues.

5. Absurdity and Absence of Logic: Pinter’s play thrives on absurdity. Characters engage in illogical conversations, and events unfold without clear cause-and-effect relationships. The film, with its visual juxtapositions and surreal imagery, intensifies this sense of absurdity.

6. The Unseen Threat: The unseen character, Goldberg, looms over the play. His presence is felt through rumors, phone calls, and the anticipation of his arrival. The film uses lighting, shadows, and camera angles to evoke this unseen threat.

•        Observe how Pinter gives us the texture-the sounds and sights of a world without structure, which is the heart and soul of the play also.

Pinteresque Silence and Pause: 

Pinter is renowned for his use of silence and pauses. These moments of stillness are pregnant with meaning, allowing the audience to feel the tension and uncertainty. The deliberate gaps in dialogue create an eerie ambiance, emphasizing the unspoken and the unsaid. These silences mirror the lack of structure in the characters’ lives, leaving us with a sense of unease.

Sounds and Sights:

• Pinter skillfully weaves sounds and visual cues into the fabric of the play.
• The recurring motif of “knocking at the door” serves as a haunting reminder of the outside world intruding upon the isolated setting.
• Each knock amplifies the menace, blurring the boundaries between reality and paranoia.
• The play’s texture is enriched by mundane yet evocative details: the mirror, the toy drum, the newspapers, 

•     How many times the ‘knocking at the door’ happens in the play? Is it creating menacing effect while viewing the movie?

In the play “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter, the ‘knocking at the door’ happens at least twice . This action is significant as it introduces the arrival of the two mysterious men, Goldberg and McCann, which turns the birthday party into a nightmare.

•     How are ‘silences’ and ‘pauses’ used in the movie to give effect of lurking danger – how it helps in building the texture of comedy of menace.

In "The Birthday Party," silences and pauses are used strategically to create an atmosphere of lurking danger, contributing to the overall texture of the "comedy of menace." Harold Pinter employs these theatrical devices to build tension and uncertainty, suggesting that danger may be lurking just beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary interactions.

Silences in the dialogue serve to highlight the unspoken tensions between characters and to emphasize moments of discomfort or unease. They create a sense of anticipation, allowing the audience to fill in the blanks with their own interpretations of what is happening. These pauses can feel oppressive, as if something sinister is about to be revealed, heightening the sense of foreboding that pervades the play.    

In the context of the "comedy of menace," these silences and pauses serve to underscore the absurdity and irrationality of the characters' behavior. The juxtaposition of seemingly mundane conversations with moments of intense silence creates a sense of dissonance, unsettling the audience and blurring the boundaries between comedy and menace. The tension created by these pauses heightens the absurdity of the characters' predicaments, adding layers of complexity to the comedic elements of the play.

•       Comment upon the use of things like mirror, toy drum, newspapers, breakfast, chairs, window-hatch etc in the movie. What sort of symbolic reading can you give to these objects?

In "The Birthday Party," Harold Pinter utilizes various objects such as mirrors, a toy drum, newspapers, breakfast, chairs, and a window-hatch to add depth to the story and imbue it with symbolic meaning. The mirror can symbolize self-reflection and the characters' attempts to understand themselves and their place in the world. It may also suggest a sense of fractured identity or distorted perception, reflecting the characters' inner turmoil and uncertainty. The toy drum serves as a reminder of childhood innocence and playfulness, contrasting with the darker themes of the play. It may symbolize the characters' longing for a simpler time or their desire to escape from the harsh realities of adulthood. Newspapers can represent the outside world and its influence on the characters' lives. They may also symbolize information and knowledge, highlighting the characters' attempts to make sense of their surroundings and navigate the complexities of their relationships. Breakfast can symbolize routine and domesticity, providing a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos and confusion of the characters' lives. It may also represent nourishment and sustenance, both physical and emotional, as the characters struggle to find meaning and purpose. Chairs are a recurring motif in the play, often used to symbolize power dynamics and social hierarchy. They may represent authority or control, as characters vie for dominance and assert their influence over others. The window-hatch can symbolize confinement and isolation, trapping the characters within the confines of their own fears and insecurities. It may also suggest a sense of longing for freedom and escape, as the characters yearn for a way out of their oppressive circumstances. Overall, these objects serve to enrich the thematic depth of "The Birthday Party," offering insights into the characters' inner lives and the broader themes of identity, power, and alienation.

• How effective are scenes like ‘Interrogation scene’ (Act 1), ‘Birthday Party scene’ (Act 2) and ‘Faltering Goldberg & Petey’s timid resistance scene’ (Act 3) captured in the movie?

The "Interrogation scene" sets the tone for the rest of the film by establishing a sense of tension and unease. Through the interrogation of Stanley, the audience is introduced to the mysterious and menacing atmosphere that pervades the narrative. The scene effectively conveys the sense of psychological manipulation and intimidation, drawing viewers into the characters' psychological struggles and uncertainties.

The "Birthday Party scene" serves as a climactic moment in the film, bringing together the various tensions and conflicts that have been simmering beneath the surface. As the birthday celebrations descend into chaos, the audience is confronted with the absurdity and unpredictability of the characters' interactions. The scene effectively captures the sense of disorientation and disarray, leaving viewers on edge as they witness the characters' unraveling.

In the "Faltering Goldberg & Petey’s timid resistance scene," the audience witnesses the culmination of the characters' struggles against external forces. Goldberg's faltering confidence and Petey's timid resistance underscore the characters' vulnerability in the face of manipulation and coercion. The scene effectively conveys the sense of powerlessness and desperation that pervades the narrative, highlighting the characters' futile attempts to assert control over their own destinies.

.                                Post-Viewing Task

•         Why are two scenes of Lulu omitted from the movie 

1. The director may have chosen to focus on certain aspects of the play's plot and characters while streamlining or condensing others. If scenes involving Lulu were not deemed essential to the central narrative or themes of the film, they might have been omitted.

2. Character Emphasis: Directors often make choices about which characters to emphasize in film adaptations. If the director felt that other characters or storylines were more central to the film's narrative, scenes involving Lulu might have been reduced or cut altogether.

3. Time Constraints: Film adaptations often have limited runtime, requiring directors to make difficult decisions about which scenes to include and which to omit. If scenes involving Lulu were deemed less crucial to the overall story, they may have been left out to maintain pacing and focus.

4. Creative Interpretation: Directors often put their own creative spin on adaptations, interpreting the source material in a way that aligns with their artistic vision. If the director had a specific interpretation of the play that didn't include certain scenes involving Lulu, they might have been omitted or altered accordingly.

•  Is movie successful in giving us the effect of menace? Where you able to feel it while reading the text?

Yes, "The Birthday Party" is successful in conveying a sense of menace both in the text of Harold Pinter's play and in William Friedkin's film adaptation. In simple terms, the story creates a feeling of danger, threat, or unease, which adds tension and suspense to the narrative. This atmosphere of menace is palpable throughout the play and the film, making the audience feel it as they engage with the story.

•   Do you feel the effect of lurking danger while viewing the movie? Where you able to feel the same while reading the text.

"The Birthday Party" effectively creates a sense of lurking danger both in the movie and the text of Harold Pinter's play. In the film, viewers might feel this sense of danger through the atmosphere created by the setting, the characters' behaviors, and the mood established by the director. Similarly, when reading the text of the play, readers can experience the same feeling of lurking danger through Pinter's use of dialogue, tension-filled interactions between characters, and the overall sense of uncertainty and unease that permeates the story.

•   What do you read in 'newspaper' in the movie? Petey is reading newspaper to Meg, it torn into pieces by McCain, pieces are hidden by Petey in last scene.

 

Harold Pinter's play "The Birthday Party," there's a scene where Petey is reading a newspaper to Meg, but the newspaper is torn into pieces by the character named McCann. Petey later hides the torn pieces of the newspaper in the last scene of the play.

The specific content of the newspaper that Petey reads to Meg isn't explicitly described in the play. Instead, this scene serves as a mundane moment that contrasts with the growing tension and menace that pervade the play. Petey's act of reading the newspaper to Meg and McCann's subsequent destructive behavior with it are symbolic of the disruption and chaos that ensue as the characters' lives unravel throughout the story.

• Camera is positioned over the head of McCain when he is playing Blind Man's Buff and is positioned at the top with a view of room like a cage (trap) when Stanley is playing it. What interpretations can you give to these positioning of camera? 

The positioning of the camera in different scenes of "The Birthday Party" can offer various interpretations and contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of the play:

1. Camera over McCain's head during Blind Man's Buff: This camera angle could symbolize McCain's feeling of being watched or controlled. It places the audience in a position of authority, looking down on McCain as if they are observing his actions. This viewpoint could reflect McCain's vulnerability and discomfort during the game, as well as his sense of being manipulated or trapped by the other characters.

2. Camera positioned at the top with a view of the room like a cage when Stanley is playing: This camera angle creates a sense of confinement or entrapment, mirroring Stanley's feelings of being trapped in his surroundings. By framing the room as a cage from above, the camera emphasizes the oppressive atmosphere and the characters' inability to escape their circumstances. It also suggests a sense of surveillance or control, as if the characters are being watched or monitored from above.

• "Pinter restored theater to its basic elements: an enclosed space and unpredictable dialogue, where people are at the mercy of one another and pretense crumbles." (Pinter, Art, Truth & Politics: Excerpts from the 2005 Nobel Lecture). Does this happen in the movie?

In the movie adaptation of "The Birthday Party" directed by William Friedkin, Harold Pinter's vision of theater's basic elements—enclosed space, unpredictable dialogue, and characters at the mercy of one another—finds expression despite the transition from stage to screen. While the film may not replicate the intimate confines of a theater stage, it conveys a sense of claustrophobia through cinematography and set design, emphasizing the characters' entrapment within the boarding house. Pinter's signature elliptical and ambiguous dialogue is likely retained, keeping viewers guessing about characters' true intentions.

The power struggles and manipulation between characters remain central, depicted through nuanced performances and dramatic confrontations. As the plot unfolds, secrets are revealed, and characters' facades crumble, mirroring Pinter's exploration of pretense and vulnerability. Though the film may differ in presentation from live theater, it retains the essence of Pinter's theatrical vision through visual storytelling and thematic depth.

•  How does viewing movie help in better understanding of the play ‘The Birthday Party’ with its typical characteristics (like painteresque, pause, silence, menace, lurking danger)?

                                                                  

Viewing a movie adaptation of "The Birthday Party" can enhance understanding of the play by providing visual and auditory cues that complement its typical characteristics, such as Pinteresque dialogue, pauses, silence, menace, and lurking danger.

1. Visual Representation: Seeing the characters, setting, and actions on screen can provide a concrete visual representation of the play's world, helping viewers better understand the relationships between characters and the dynamics of the environment they inhabit.

2. Pinteresque Dialogue: Hearing the actors deliver Pinter's elliptical and ambiguous dialogue can bring new insights into the nuances of the language and the subtext underlying the characters' interactions. Facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice can convey layers of meaning that may not be fully apparent in written form.

3. Pauses and Silence: In Pinter's plays, pauses and moments of silence are often as significant as the dialogue itself, conveying tension, uncertainty, and unspoken thoughts. In the movie adaptation, the use of camera angles, editing, and sound design can highlight these pauses, intensifying their impact and adding to the atmosphere of suspense.

4. Menace and Lurking Danger: Through cinematography, lighting, music, and sound effects, the film adaptation can amplify the sense of menace and lurking danger present in the play. Close-up shots, shadowy lighting, and unsettling music can heighten the suspense, keeping viewers on edge as they anticipate the next twist in the plot.

•    With which of the following observations you agree:

o   “It probably wasn't possible to make a satisfactory film of "The Birthday Party."

o    “It's impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version directed by William Friedkin”[3]. (Ebert)

I I agree with the observation that 'It's impossible to imagine a better film of Pinter's play than this sensitive, disturbing version directed by William Friedkin.' This statement encapsulates the effectiveness of Friedkin's direction in capturing the essence of Harold Pinter's play 'The Birthday Party.' Friedkin's adaptation masterfully translates Pinter's intricate dialogue, nuanced characters, and pervasive sense of menace onto the screen, creating a gripping and atmospheric film. Through careful attention to detail, including cinematography, performances, and pacing, Friedkin succeeds in conveying the psychological depth and tension inherent in the play. The film's sensitivity to the source material, combined with its ability to evoke a profound sense of disturbance, makes it a standout adaptation that does justice to Pinter's work."

•         If you were director or screenplay writer, what sort of difference would you make in the making of movie?

As a director or screenplay writer, I would aim to maintain the essence and integrity of Harold Pinter's play "The Birthday Party" while also exploring creative ways to enhance its impact on the screen. One area I would focus on is deepening the visual storytelling to complement Pinter's rich dialogue and themes. This could involve employing innovative cinematography techniques to heighten the sense of menace and claustrophobia within the boarding house setting, as well as using lighting, sound design, and music to intensify the atmosphere of suspense and psychological tension. Additionally, I would strive to bring out the complexity of the characters and their relationships through nuanced performances and character development, ensuring that each actor conveys the layers of ambiguity and hidden motives present in Pinter's text. Overall, my goal would be to create a film adaptation that resonates with audiences both as a faithful rendition of Pinter's play and as a compelling cinematic experience in its own right.

•      Who would be your choice of actors to play the role of characters?

As a director, I would choose Tom Hardy for Stanley, Mark Strong for Goldberg, Michael Fassbender for McCann, Carey Mulligan for Meg, and Colin Firth for Petey. Each actor brings a unique blend of talent and depth to their roles, ensuring a compelling and memorable adaptation of "The Birthday Party."

  

•     Do you see any similarities among Kafka's Joseph K. (in 'The Trial'), Orwell's Winston Smith (in 'Nineteen Eighty-Four') and Pinter's Victor (in 'One for the Road')?  
•     Certainly. Kafka's Joseph K., Orwell's Winston Smith, and Pinter's Victor share similarities as protagonists trapped within oppressive systems. They each grapple with loss of agency, existential crises, and dehumanization in the face of totalitarian control. These characters serve as poignant reflections of the dangers of authoritarianism and the erosion of individual freedom.

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