The Birthday Party

A.C.T.
415 Geary St. San Francisco

Two-time Tony-winner Judith Ivey (Hurlyburly, Will & Grace, Grey's Anatomy) stars in Harold Pinter's darkly comic classic at the Geary Theater in San Francisco. When asked what his surrealist plays were really all about, the Nobel and Tony-winning playwright famously replied, "the weasel under the cocktail cabinet." Whether you prefer that definition, or describe it as a "comedy of menace," The Birthday Party is pure Pinter. It revolves around Petey, Meg and their long-time tenant Stanley, a retired pianist, who lead a quiet life at a seaside boarding house ... until two strangers show up. Their presence turns Stanley's surprise birthday celebration into something much more sinister, which includes a high-stakes game of blindman's bluff and a mysterious blackout. A.C.T. favorite Marco Barricelli and Stratford Fest star Scott Wentworth are also set to appear in the company's new production.