Pinter on Pinter on Pinter Directed by Shelly Lipkin What: Two One-acts by Harold Pinter Dates: Thurs - Sun, May 25th - June 23rd, 2001 Location: Russell Street Theatre 116 NE Russell Street, Portland, OR Featuring: Wendy Westerwelle, Vana O' Brien, Dave Bodin, Nic Burilini-Price, Kristen Martha Brown, Chris Herman, Janet Fisher-Welsh

'THE COLLECTION' - 1961
A long-run success off-Broadway, this intriguing short play probes into the tensions and conflicts surrounding four people who seek to learn the unfortunate truth about each other. "Once again Harold Pinter exhibits his talent for strange effects and mysterious menace in a stunning and frightening one-act play."- Newsday

The Collection is a story about power and the truth, written by the master disguising power and the truth. Before the dramatic action of the play, Stella has told James about an affair that she has had with Bill. In the play, James goes on a search for the truth, being manipulated along the way and exacting some revenge of his own. The only problem is, one never knows what the truth really is. Classic Pinter, the play boils down to an incredibly intricate power struggle that is pushed by suspicion and the need to control others. Brilliant in its subtlety, this play is an actor's dream, and a director's funhouse, which can be both a lot of excitement, and a strain on one's fears.

'NIGHT SCHOOL' - 1960
Walter, a life-long criminal, has just been released from jail and is about to settle into a bit of domestic bliss with his two loving aunties. But much to his dismay he finds they've thrown a wrench into his plans by renting his room to a young school teacher. Walter is immediately suspicious and decides to find out a bit more about her. Does she really teach night school and is she really as sweet and unassuming as she lets on? Pinter's one-act is a sometimes hilarious, baffling, enigmatic and terrifing look at the seedier side to London life. Are we really all we claim to be and how far will we go to get what we want?

... and a treat - There is a great deal of speculation regarding the true meaning of Pinter's plays. Lipkin will deal with this by placing Pinter himself on the stage and using text from "Conversations With Pinter", Mel Gussow's series Pinter interviews the "author himself" will illuminate the meaning behind the menace, the enigmatic danger, the pauses and silences. This fascinating commentary is surprising, humorous and informative, casting a unique insider's peek at the mystery behind the work!