Review: THE BIRDS at 59E59 is a Standout Thriller

"Welcome to reality, where anything can happen."

-The Birds

The NYC premiere of The Birds is onstage at 59E59 Theaters now through October 1st. It is written by the celebrated playwright, Conor McPherson and directed by Stefan Dzeparoski as part of 1st Irish Festival. The play is an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's spine tingling novellete about flocks of birds and seabirds that attack a community. While many people may recall the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock horror movie by the same name, this play is a standout, a thriller in its own right with intriguing characters, intense dialogue and its own suspenseful storyline. Performed in an intimate theatre space, the play features excellent staging and a talented cast. It will keep you on The Edge of your seat.

The Birds is set in an isolated house where strangers Nat and Diane have taken shelter from masses of attacking birds that come and go with the ocean's tides. They have little comfort with no electricity and meager provisions. Their situation becomes even more complex when Julia, an outgoing young woman, seeks refuge with them. Tensions run high between the three of them as suspicions runs deep. There's also the mysterious presence of a neighbor, a man who may have also survived the threat of nature's apocalypse. As the story unfolds, some alarming information about the three survivors and their interpersonal relationships is revealed.

The show's cast includes Antoinette Lavecchia as Diane; Tony Naumovski as Nat and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw as Julia. Their fine performances are captivating as they bring a complete sense of the story's drama and horror to the stage.

The design team has done an absolutely great job with set design by Konstantin Roth; lighting design by Kia Rogers; costume design by Kate R. Mincer; sound design by Ien DeNio and video design by David J. Palmer. The production stage manager is Robert Neapolitan.

The Birds is a stark and compelling view of human desperation in the face of dire circumstances. See this gripping show while it is on the New York stage.

The Birds is presented by Birdland Theatre with Artistic Producer, Zoranda Kydd. The show will be performed through Saturday, October 1. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street (between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $20 ($14 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

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