Birthday in a Darkroom is a short piece that intentionally uses dream logic and absurd humor as a device to condense a flood of experiences and issues (depression, anxiety, difference in artistic taste, critical imprisonment, identity defined by congress) into one microcosmic scene. This is hopefully achieved when seven very different familiar faces throw a birthday party for the protagonist, Timothy Grimm, in a dream-like reality that reflects his fears and anxieties through their actions and words. The writing intentionally borrows both from the early 17th century Shakespearian Tragicomedies 'Hamlet', 'Othello' and 'King Lear' as well as from the mid-20th century 'Theatre of the Absurd' playwrights like Samuel Beckett, Tom Stoppard, and Edward Albee. While borrowing from these genres, it still remains grounded in modern times, intended for a modern audience, playing out with a fast-paced jazz-like rhythm. The goal is to end up with something accessible and fun; sugarcoated, but still with a rim of truth.
