The Birthday Party

"The Birthday Party" is a one-act play written by Harold Pinter, first performed in 1958. It centers on a man named Stanley, who lives in a seaside boarding house and is visited by two mysterious figures, Goldberg and McCann. The play explores themes of power, identity, and the human condition, using Pinter’s signature style of pauses and ambiguous dialogue. It highlights the tension and uncertainty in interpersonal relationships, as the characters’ motives remain unclear. Overall, it examines how individuals cope with existential threats and the fragility of personal stability.