Sex, Lies And Harold Pinter (2026 Production) Theatre Review

Sex, Lies And Harold Pinter is a visiting production now up at The Odyssey Theatre, and is made up of two excellent one-act plays by Harold Pinter – Party Time and The Lover. Though both plays were written some time ago (Party Time in 1991, The Lover in the early 1960s), they speak to us just as strongly now, and this production, directed by Jack Heller, sets them in current times.

Party Time (Pinter's third play with the word "party" in the title, following The Birthday Party and Tea Party) is up first, and within a few minutes of the house opening, the cast takes the stage, mingling, talking with each other, just as the audience does as they find their seats and get comfortable, one almost a reflection of the other. The characters all gravitate toward the drinks table, as would we all. Then, drinks in hand, they form their own little groups – two women on the couch, two men standing upstage right, the others remaining near the drinks table upstage center. The set is very symmetrical (with an end table on either side of the couch, and an arm chair to the outside of each table, and so on), but warm, dominated by wood and with red carpets. Though there are many classic touches to the set (an hour glass, the older furniture), we are in modern times, which is apparent when one of the women on the couch slips her cell phone into her purse. And if it weren't for the necessary announcements before the show (and some idiot's phone still dinged), the play could just emerge from the action already in progress. It is the two men upstage right (Paul Marius as Terry, Larry Eisenberg as Gavin) who speak first, and while they do, the other characters remain frozen in shadow. That will continue throughout the play, as the action shifts from one group to another. The conversation is about a tennis club, and there is a good deal of humor, part of it coming from them not quite connecting, until Dusty (Michelle Ghatan) joins them and tries to turn to a serious matter, asking "Did you hear what happened to Jimmy?" And though she too gets sucked into the conversation about the club, we in the audience are drawn to her and are now keeping a closer eye on her, for we feel that she's the one that will perhaps speak for us. She is the one who most directly addresses the danger outside, and Michelle Ghatan does an excellent job in the part.

Though the story takes place at a somewhat upscale party, there soon are clues that something horrible is happening on the streets, something these people are doing their best to ignore. At most, whatever it is is an inconvenience to them, as Melissa (Mouchette Van Helsdingen) makes clear when she enters and talks about the roadblock. "We had to say who we were," she says, exasperated, as those at the roadblock had the audacity to not be aware of who she is. Mouchette Van Helsdingen is wonderful there, by the way, quite funny. And soon we hear a helicopter flying overhead. And while it becomes clear from the conversations that these people are largely, or at least feel largely, innocent, or rather removed, from the troubles outside, we get the sense that they are, in fact, responsible, much in the same way that all the people who voted for Donald Trump are responsible for the concentration camps, the war with Iran and the high gas prices here and now. Sure, they might be baffled at receiving the blame, but they are responsible nonetheless. This production gives us a lot of laughs, as when Fred (Isaac W. Jay) tells Douglas, "I admire people like you," and Douglas (Christopher Louis Parker) replies, "So do I." And the way Charlotte (Brenda James) delivers the word "Appalling." Yes, everything we love about Harold Pinter's dialogue is present here. But even as we're laughing, we sense something frightening bubbling up beneath the words, a strange threat of violence. This cast does a phenomenal job of both making us laugh and also putting us on edge, turning in captivating performances. And some of our discomfort (perhaps all of it?), we discover to our own chagrin, comes from a fear of how we ourselves might act in certain situations. When the party's host reveals that a roundup is happening and that normal service will return, it is again difficult to keep from thinking of what is happening on the streets of our cities right now. And isn't there a part of us that just wants things to return to normal?

The set remains the same for The Lover, and so for a moment we can't help but think that those who came before have met with a terrific end. Sarah (Susan Priver) enters first, and, like the characters of Party Time, makes her way to the drinks table. When Richard (Ron Bottitta, who was excellent in last year's Corktown '39) enters, there is silence between them for a moment. But soon he casually inquires about Sarah's lover. The matter-of-fact delivery is startling, and we can't help but wonder what he really feels about the situation. As for Sarah, when she describes her afternoon as "marvelous," she is positively glowing, and we have a much better idea how she feels about the arrangement. She is hilarious in that moment. It's interesting that when they discuss some of the details, they focus on the blinds, the light, and the heat, rather than what actually took place. It is a relationship in questions, if not in question, and we begin to get the sense that this is some kind of game for them. He asks her, for example, if she thinks of him while with her lover, and upon learning that she does, says, "I'm rather moved by that, I must say."

We soon learn that he too has a lover. She refers to the woman as a mistress; he refers to her as a whore. "I'm well acquainted with a whore," he tells her, which receives a big laugh. They are engaged in an interesting verbal game. And, again, it is a game of questions. It is Sarah's turn to ask, "Richard, do you ever think about me at all when you're with her?" At that moment, he seems to gain the upper hand. What's particularly interesting is that Richard asks Sarah, "What does he think of your husband?" rather than "What does he think of me?" It is then that we get the idea that the role of husband is also part of the game, and thus so must be the role of wife. And, indeed, it is as if these two are always playing at their game, and seem happiest when fully invested in their roles. That is, until Richard decides he wants to put a stop to it, which sets Sarah at a panic. Are they closest when playing the game? And as is the case with Party Time, this play might have us questioning some of our own games, our own roles. How much do we require certain games in our lives? And why? And if those games take over, who are the real us? There is a wonderful moment when Sarah tells her lover that he and her husband have so little in common, and another intriguing moment when Sarah tells her husband that their arrangement was not to question. Both Susan Priver and Ron Bottitta are absolutely riveting, turning in fantastic performances that keep the audience fully engaged.

Sex, Lies And Harold Pinter runs through April 26, 2026. Visit the theatre's website for the complete schedule. There is one brief intermission between the two plays. The Odyssey is located at 2055 South Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. There is a free parking lot in front of the theatre.

Shakespeare References in Deep Community

Deep Community: Adventures In The Modern Folk Underground, by Scott Alarik, contains some Shakespeare references. The book is a collection of pieces on the vibrant folk scene, focusing especially on the Boston scene. In a piece on Dar Williams, titled "Dar Williams: Her Battle Cry Of Kindness," Alarik writes, referring to The Green World: "The CD title is a theater term describing one of the two worlds in William Shakespeare's plays. There is the court world, where most of his historical dramas and tragedies are set. Then there is the green world, the wild, fey forests of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'As You Like It'" (p. 11). A little later in that same piece, Alarik quotes the lyrics of one of Dar's songs: "You would think they're carefree, I have seen their trials/Frowning into Shakespeare and practicing their smiles" (p. 13). Then in a piece on Ewan MacColl, Alarik writes: "'The ballads are brilliant examples of song construction,' he says. 'They are as important to people today as the plays of Shakespeare or Moliere, just as much complete works of art as anything we have in written literature. I think all the ballads in the quatrain form, such as 'Lamkin' or 'Tam Lin,' were very calculatedly composed, as carefully constructed as 'King Lear'" (p. 311). Later in that piece, he writes, "What MacColl is stressing, more than anything else, is that these ballads, and for that matter, all of the traditional folk songs that have been good enough to survive this long, are great works of literature, worthy of being treated as an actor treats Shakespeare" (p. 312). A piece on Kate Wolf contains a reference to Antony And Cleopatra: "Idaho singer-songwriter Sorrels, a friend of Wolf's since their salad days as aspiring troubadours in the mid-'60s, sings a rivetingly conversational cover of 'In China or a Woman's Heart'" (p. 338). The phrase "salad days" comes from Shakespeare's play. Cleopatra says, "My salad days,/When I was green in judgment." This book actually contains a second reference to Antony And Cleopatra, using that same phrase: "Through it all, she has taken precious lessons from her salad days at Club 47" (p. 378). There is one other mention of Shakespeare. About David Coffin, Alarik writes, "After two years, he decided, as he put it, to challenge his interest in music, dropping out of school and moving to Stockbridge, Mass., where he worked two years as a musician for the theatrical troupe Shakespeare & Company" (p. 369).

Deep Community: Adventures In The Modern Folk Underground was published in 2003 through Black Wolf Press.

Antony And Cleopatra (Long Beach Shakespeare Company's 2026 Production) Theatre Review

Long Beach Shakespeare Company's new production of Antony And Cleoptra at Helen Borgers Theatre is done with few props and in modern dress, the focus being on Shakespeare's text and the characters' relationships, particularly that of the two titular characters. It is a fast-paced production, without intermission, and with the entire cast remaining in the playing space throughout the performance. In fact, as the audience enters, the actors are already on stage, greeting people as they take their seats. Though this is a small theatre, the performance is done in the round, with a half-dozen chairs placed along what would normally be the stage left and stage right walls, and even a couple of chairs upstage from the main audience area. Thus, much of the audience is in the action, which makes asides feel all the more natural. A line from the play, "Eternity was in our lips and eyes," is written on both the stage left and stage right walls. It is a line spoken by Cleopatra to Antony in the play's first act, and it is a line that is striking for while it speaks clearly of their relationship, it is something that most of us feel when falling in love. And so the audience takes that thought, that feeling into the performance.

So it is perhaps no surprise that the first line spoken in this production is Cleopatra's first line, "If it be love, tell me how much." She and Antony are seated on a chest which is placed center stage and will act as an important platform throughout the performance. That line, delivered so well by Angelina Green, establishes Cleopatra's character perfectly. She is perhaps the most powerful woman in the world, and yet there is something of the young woman in her when it comes to love, something insecure, something needy. Angelina Green's Cleopatra is wonderfully playful in these opening moments, while Dominic Ryan Gabriel's Antony is a bit more stoic, a bit more somber. He stands on his "Let Rome in Tiber melt," as to stress his position. The actors are mainly in plain black clothing, helping with the sense of an ensemble piece, but Cleopatra's costume has a little more excitement to it, which seems exactly right, with tall boots and bits of jewelry (and, later, her special robe). Cleopatra's "Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her?" is delivered to the audience, making us part of her court. Antony engages in play too, and his "Last night you did desire it" receives "Ooohs" from other cast members, and perhaps from a few people in the audience too, for the barrier is quickly blurred. Antony shushes them. Charmian (Olivia Frias), following Cleopatra's lead, has fun with her "let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all" speech. And Enobarbas (Connor Bowen) playfully peeks inside the chest before then announcing that Antony is coming. All of this works to create a deliciously light and mirthful mood and atmosphere.

The theatre's naturally intimate space, enhanced by the in-the-round setup, keeps the audience close to the action. And it allows for some softly delivered lines, such as Antony's speech after he learns of his wife's death. Dominic Ryan Gabriel is particularly good in that moment, and his delivery draws us in even closer, and works in great contrast to the established mood. The production makes excellent use of what space there is, particularly the chest, as I mentioned, and the platform upstage. For example, on "O, never was there queen/So mightily betray'd" Cleopatra stands on that platform so that she is above Antony, as she needs to be heard, to feel a regaining of power. She then returns to his level for her speech that contains the "Eternity was in our lips and eyes" line, once again intimate. And it is remarkable that we feel that intimacy so strongly even when the couple is among so many people. And Pompey (Arjun Lakshman) stands on the chest, surrounded by the ensemble, on "I shall do well:/The people love me." When Antony and Caesar (Justin Valine) meet, and size each other up, they are standing on opposite sides of the chest. Another interesting result of the way the space is used and the way the cast remains on stage is that when characters speak of other characters that are not present in the text they are able to look directly at them. This creates some fascinating stage pictures, for it is like we in the audience are able to see their thoughts. For example, when Caesar says "to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy," he indicates Antony and Cleopatra, who are engaged in an intimate moment on the chest. Later, when Antony speaks of Enobarbus who has gone to Caesar's camp, he stands directly in front of him, though Enobarbus is not actually in the scene. It's a powerful and emotional moment. And when Agrippa (Eduardo Mora) suggests that Antony take Octavia for wife, Octavia (Julianne Holmquist), who has been watching from upstage (but is not present in this scene in the text), steps down and makes a circuit of the action before returning to her spot. She, by the way, is able to convey so much with just a look, an expression. And speaking of expressions, it is clear from Justin Valine's expression that Caesar does not fully trust Antony even when taking his hand to seal the pact, agreeing on the marriage. Another wonderful stage picture is created when the Messenger describes Octavia to Cleopatra, for Octavia and Antony are lying down upstage, Antony's head on her lap, and it is painfully clear that Octavia is far from what the Messenger describes. Seeing Antony and Octavia in that moment also makes us feel more for Cleopatra.

More lines are delivered as asides in this production. For example, when Cleopatra says, "Thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him," the second part of that line is delivered to someone in the audience. It really helps to make the audience feel a part of the action, without destroying the meaning of a line. Perhaps the most striking example of a speech basically turned soliloquy is that famous speech by Enobarbas, when he describes the barge and Cleopatra. This speech is delivered to the audience. On "dimpled boys," he briefly takes Agrippa's hand, but continues to address the audience. Connor Bowen does a phenomenal job with this speech. On "I saw her once/Hop forty paces through the public street," we can clearly hear and see his own admiration for her. The production features a strong ensemble, but Connor Bowen's performance is one that stands out. Another that stands out is that by Angelina Green. She is especially good in the scene where the Messenger has come to reveal the unwelcome news that Antony is married to Octavia. Her delivery of "I do not like 'but yet'" is particularly delightful. Her performance makes that scene especially memorable. And Dominic Ryan Gabriel delivers an excellent performance as Antony. He is exceptional on "you were my conqueror," sinking to his knees, drawing Cleopatra to him.

Though this production uses neither armor nor sword, both are still mentioned, as when Antony demands his armor or Eros (Alan Bornemann) says, "My sword is drawn." In that latter moment, his hands remain at his sides. He does not indicate that he uses his sword to kill himself, except through Shakespeare's words. Likewise, there is no asp, so it feels as if Cleopatra wills her own death. By the way, as you likely concluded, in this production, Cleopatra is not far enough above Antony for it to be necessary to have him lifted, as in the text. Instead, Antony is helped by two men to the platform. After his death, each of the characters takes a candle from its place on the wall and places it in a row on the chest in silent tribute, a touching moment. Cleopatra had the first line in this production, and it is Charmian who has the last. Caesar's final speech is cut, so it is the women who begin and conclude the performance, giving us a different sense of where the power lies.

This production of Antony And Cleopatra is directed by Christian Lee Navarro, and produced by Holly Leveque. It runs through March 22, 2026. Visit the company's website for the complete schedule. Helen Borgers Theatre is located at 4250 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach, California.