The Birthday Party Act 1 Quiz : Act I of The Birthday Party opens in a shabby seaside boarding house run by Petey and his wife Meg. Their morning begins with idle chatter over breakfast. Petey talks about his job as a deck-chair attendant, while Meg fusses over cereal and fried bread. Their tenant, Stanley Webber, hasn’t come downstairs yet, and Meg goes up to check on him. Stanley appears later, dishevelled and irritable. He complains about the food and mocks Meg’s housekeeping, though they also share some oddly flirtatious banter.
The calm setting is disrupted when Petey tells Meg that two strangers asked for accommodation and might arrive that day. Stanley becomes anxious upon hearing this news. He denies believing it and insists it must be a false alarm. His paranoia increases, and he starts behaving aggressively. He also invents a story about being a concert pianist who was betrayed by organisers during a tour.
Soon, Lulu visits with a parcel for Stanley, teasing him about his appearance. She invites him for a walk, but he declines. When Lulu leaves, Stanley spirals further into unease. Later, Goldberg and McCann arrive at the house carrying suitcases. They seem calm but speak cryptically about an undefined “job” they are about to carry out. Their arrival is unsettling.
Meg, unaware of their true purpose, is delighted to have guests. When she mentions it’s Stanley’s birthday, Goldberg suggests a party. Meg is thrilled and decides to wear her party dress. She gives Stanley a present—a toy drum. Though confused at first, Stanley starts beating the drum around the table. Gradually, his playing becomes wild and violent, ending the act on a disturbing note.
The Birthday Party Act 1 Quiz
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