Tim Roth to star in revival of Harold Pinter’s ‘Birthday Party’

Tim Roth is joining the cast of Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party,� which will be directed by William Friedkin at the Geffen Playhouse, with an official opening set for Feb. 12. The new revival production will also feature British stage veteran Frances Barber.

“The Birthday Party� was Pinter’s second full-length play and was first performed in 1958. Roth will play the role of Stanley, a former pianist whose birthday party at a seaside boarding house is disrupted by enigmatic visitors.

Barber, who appeared in the all-female staging of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar� by the Donmar Warehouse that came to New York earlier this year, will play the role of Meg, who runs the boarding house with her husband Petey. The cast will also include Steven Berkoff and Nick Ullett.

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Friedkin, whose movie credits include “The French Connection� and “The Exorcist,� directed the 1968 screen adaptation of “The Birthday Party.� The Geffen’s new revival marks the first time he has directed there.

Pinter, who died in 2008 at 78, won the Nobel Prize in literature. His other plays include “The Homecoming� and “Betrayal,� the latter of which is currently being revived on Broadway with Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz.

“The Birthday Party� is scheduled to start preview performances on Feb. 4, and is set to run through March 16.

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