Sex and Death: Two One Act Plays by Nobel Prize Winner Harold Pinter
Phoenix Theatre Annex (414 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102)
- Full Price:
- $35.00
- Our Price:
- $17.50*
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for Sex and Death: A Night with Harold Pinter have expired.
The last date listed for Sex and Death: A Night with Harold Pinter was Saturday March 26, 2011 / 8:00pm.
Goldstar Member Tips
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Goldstar Member on Where to Eat
Complimentary wine, but leave a big tip!
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kgeorge on Other
All the seats are good
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Goldstar Member on Other
We eat at Postrio beforhand. Great service and food and classy and quiet!
15 Goldstar Member Reviews
Greg
“The Dumb Waiter” is the first of a twin bill of Harold Pinter one-acters presented by the highly regarded Off Broadway West Theatre Company. Despite the talented cast and uncommonly effective minimalist design elements, it’s the less successful work.Written on Mar 13 2011
Gus, as played by Conor Hamill, is the younger of a pair of hit men summoned by a faceless "organization" to await the arrival of their mark in a dark and dingy basement. The job is evidently routine, but for the first time Gus begins to express concern about his place within the overall plan.
His incessant questions test the patience of his older and more experienced cohort, Ben (Shane Fahy), who appears content to perform his designated role. Then, as an actual dumbwaiter is introduced, the play takes a somewhat surreal turn.
At this point we’re obliged to suspend logic as the absurdity unfolds. Understandably, this could be a confounding exercise for the uninitiated. And if it were not for the compelling turns by Hamill and Fahy, it might very well be too much to ask. The denouement does ultimately make sense, but the pay off is not wholly satisfying.
On the other hand, “The Lover,” the second of the two plays on the program is, in a word, magnifique!
Despite the appearance of conventionality, an attractive, middle-class couple decides to embrace an “open” lifestyle to preserve their ten-year marriage. They both seem content with their arrangement; until, of course, things start to unravel.
Pinter’s examination of the games that people play suggests that one’s emotions are not so easily compartmentalized. The complications begin when Richard, brilliantly portrayed with an impeccable Brit accent by Chad Stender, inquires about the details of his wife’s romantic interludes with her “lover”.
Sarah, performed to perfection by Nicole Helfer, greets her husband's curiosity with a deliberate candor that masks a well-nigh imperceptible reticence. The ensuing events could easily devolve into common melodrama, but Pinter throws us an ironic curve that’s far more intriguing.
A set of riveting confrontations inevitably take place, showcasing some of the most outstanding acting I’ve seen on stage in quite a while. Featuring a marvelously controlled intensity, Stender’s commitment and mastery of his craft is truly exemplary.
And Miss Helfer engages him with a passion equal in fervor and conviction. There isn’t a false note in her performance as she fearlessly traverses a complex range of emotions with a sublime agility. Not since Ingrid Bergman have I witnessed a more expressive face. At the risk of sounding disingenuous, her ability to totally inhabit her character-in mind, body and soul-is a genuine revelation!
The production is aided immeasurably by an original score by Randy Freemire, clever lighting and set design, and tasteful costuming. A show of this caliber must not be denied the proper recognition, let alone a receptive audience. I cannot recommend your attendance at the Phoenix Theatre more highly!
(Please note my rating reflects a combined score. Standing alone, the second play would be five stars.)
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bwkbwk
2 very different plays from Harold Pinter.Written on Mar 18 2011
The first one, "The Dumb Waiter", kept my interest throughout, but had a confusing and unsatisfying finish.
The second one, "The Lover", also kept my interest throughout, but had a satisfying, complete ending.
The Lover was quite ahead of its time when Pinter wrote it in the early 60s. The subject is still contemporary.
Both plays were well acted, in spite of minimal sets. All seats in this small theater are good.
Both shows are definitely worth seeing, especially The Lover.
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Kenyon
Very well acted, directed and staged. Each play is about an hour long, with an intermission in between. A nice complement to The Homecoming (on at ACT now.) Pinter isn't for everyone, but I really enjoy him and thought this was a fine production of two seminal works.Written on Mar 14 2011
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kgeorge
I've concluded that Pinter (whom I'm sure is brilliant) just isn't for everyone. The first play had me baffled and yearning for a conclusion. The accents made it difficult to understand and they weren't very convincing (they sounded more Australian to me); thankfully the accents flattened out as the play went on so their lines became clearer. I did get a sense of the dark despair the characters were in (although that perception may have been blurred slightly by my own, similar feelings).Written on Mar 07 2011
I enjoyed the second play much more; the flux of character roles and morphing reality worked terrifically in the 1960's setting. I thought the acting was superb.
The theater is intimate and delightful.
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More Information About Sex and Death: A Night with Harold Pinter
Website
http://www.offbroadwaywest.org/
Quotes & Highlights
- Learn more about Harold Pinter and his plays.
Description
Off Broadway West is proud to present two one act plays from the acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter. Two of his most famous one acts: The Dumb Waiter and The Lover offer up a night of intellectual, as well as carnal, provocation. The Dumb Waiter, written in 1957, is one of Pinter’s more exemplary plays, deliciously enticing audiences with the language and inherent tensions built into human relationships. The Lover, written in 1962, is Pinter’s treatise on sexual desire breaking through the confines of middle class convention.
The Dumb Waiter
Pinter’s conversation between two down-and-out hitmen is the perfect backdrop for his exploration of the human condition as it relates to the meaning of life, social standing, and an individual’s perception of himself in these different realms. Ben and Gus hash out the significance of their existence while waiting for the terms of their “next job” while Pinter uses them to scrutinize life’s ugliest moments and impulses.
The Lover
1963: Outside London, a married couple plays a scintillating game that subverts the status quo. But after six years of playing, who holds the cards when it’s time to change the rules? Balancing propriety and lust, this ambitious couple has brought bohemian passion into a tightly seamed world. Pinter explores the balance of power in a sophisticated agreement, and what secures the bond through upheaval.
The Dumb Waiter is directed by OBWTC Company member, Durand Garcia; The Lover is directed by OBWTC Company member, Cecelia Palmtag.
Off Broadway West Theatre Company is an award-winning non-profit theatre company in the middle of its fourth season continuing its mission to provide the Bay Area theatre community with plays that engage and challenge without forgetting to entertain.
About the Ticket Supplier: Off Broadway West Theatre Company
Off Broadway West Theatre Company was established in 2006 to promote and encourage the continued development of theatre in San Francisco by providing leadership and opportunities for participation, education and sharing the enjoyment of diverse theatre experiences. OBW is committed to producing a minimum of one play per season that has been on Broadway and/or Off Broadway by which connecting the East and West.