![]() ![]() The Birthday Party was first performed in 1958 and is now a modern classic, produced and studied throughout the world. An innocent-seeming birthday party for Stanley turns into a nightmare. He looks up at Ben, and they stare at each other through a long silence.ĭescription of the book 'The Birthday Party': Stanley Webber is visited in his boarding house by strangers, Goldberg and McCann. He levels his gun at the door and Gus stumbles in, vulnerably stripped of some of his clothes and his gun. Ben listens through the tube and confirms that it is time to do their job. ![]() Gus leaves to get a drink of water, and the speaking tube whistle blows. Another order comes, they fight again, and then they retreat into silence, Ben reading his newspaper, as the dumb waiter goes up and comes down again. They argue, and Gus wants to know why they have to play these 'games.' Ben hits him twice on the shoulder. Gus excuses himself to the bathroom, where the toilet again does not flush, and returns. They must corner the target with guns when he or she enters the room. Ben gives Gus the instructions for the job. Gus yells into the tube that there is no food. The packet of tea they sent up has also returned.īen decides they should write a note telling them they can't fill the orders, but then they notice an intercom tube. Another order comes down the passage for more food with which they are unfamiliar. Ben tells him not to shout, as 'It isn't done.' Gus then discusses, without Ben's answering, his feelings of anxiety about the job and Wilson. They put the plate on and Gus calls up the brand names of the food. ![]() The box descends again with another order, this time for 'high class' exotic food. They put everything on a plate, but the dumb waiter ascends before they can put the plate on it. Ben decides they should send something up, but they have only a little food. Gus looks up the hatch, but Ben pushes him away. The dumb waiter descends again, and Gus pulls out another order for food. Ben explains that the upstairs used to be a café, the basement was the kitchen, and that these places change ownership quickly. Gus pulls a piece of paper out, and reads out an order for food. They investigate and find a box on a dumb waiter (a small elevator used for conveying food and dishes between stories of a building). They are interrupted by a sound from the wall. ![]()
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