Jessie Taylor
Noah Haidle's play 'Birthday Candles' is a 90-minute to 100-minute production that premiered on Broadway in 2022. The play follows the life of Ernestine Ashworth, from her 17th birthday to her 101st, as she bakes her mother's special birthday cake recipe. The poignant and humorous performance illustrates the ordinary and extraordinary moments that make up a lifetime, including births, deaths, love, and despair.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Playwright | Noah Haidle |
| Director | Vivienne Benesch |
| Premiere Date | April 10, 2022 |
| Theatre | American Airlines Theatre |
| Running Time | 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Recommended Age | 14+ |
| Main Character | Ernestine Ashworth |
| Main Character Age Range | 17 to 101 |
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What You'll Learn
The play's length
The play Birthday Candles has a running time of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, with no intermission. The play was written by award-winning playwright Noah Haidle and premiered in 2018. It follows the story of Ernestine Ashworth and spans over 80 years of her life, from her 17th birthday to her 101st.
The play is a poignant and humorous portrayal of the ordinary and extraordinary moments that make up a person's life. It explores the triumphs and tragedies of humanity and has been described as a "life-changing" performance that will make you "laugh and cry".
The length of the play allows the audience to journey through Ernestine's life, witnessing her growth and transformation over time. The running time of 100 minutes provides an opportunity for the character development and the exploration of themes such as love, pain, isolation, and the passage of time.
Birthday Candles is a testament to the power of theatre and its ability to convey profound messages within a limited time frame. The play's length is carefully considered to balance the exploration of themes and character arcs, creating a meaningful and engaging theatrical experience for the audience.
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The protagonist's age
The protagonist of Birthday Candles, Ernestine Ashworth, ages significantly throughout the play. The play follows her life from her 17th birthday to her 101st, spanning five generations and over 80 years.
At the beginning of the play, Ernestine is 17 years old and struggling to find her place in the world. She feels insignificant and is unsure if her life will amount to anything. Despite these doubts, she is determined to make something of herself. As the play progresses, we see Ernestine at various ages, including her 18th birthday, 41st, and 70th, and finally, her 101st. The play explores the highlights and heartbreaks of her life, including ordinary and wholly fulfilling moments.
The character of Ernestine is portrayed by a single actress, Kate Fry, who ages throughout the play. The play's simplicity allows the audience to see themselves or someone they know in the characters on stage. The actress playing Ernestine captures the character's essence at each stage of her life, contributing to the play's poignant and humorous tone.
The progression of Ernestine's age is marked by her mother's golden butter cake, which becomes a tradition for her. The cake is made with a family recipe handed down through generations, and Ernestine bakes it for herself over the course of her life. The cake serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the cycle of life, as each birthday marks a new year and a new set of experiences.
The play explores the theme of aging through Ernestine's journey and the changing dynamics of her relationships. As she ages, we see the births, deaths, love, despair, and the full range of human emotions and thoughts that accompany a lifetime. The play also touches on memory and aging through the character of Tom, who performs an autobiographical solo piece related to these themes.
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Themes of existentialism
The play "Birthday Candles" by Noah Haidle explores the life of Ernestine Ashworth over 80+ years, from her 17th to her 101st birthday. The play delves into themes of existentialism and examines what it means to be alive. Here are some paragraphs discussing the themes of existentialism in the play:
Paragraph 1:
The central theme of existentialism in "Birthday Candles" revolves around Ernestine's struggle to find her place in the universe. As a 17-year-old, she feels a sense of insignificance and questions her worth, wondering if her life will ever amount to anything. This sense of existential crisis is heightened by the passing of time, as Ernestine finds herself racing through life without accomplishing her goals. The play invites the audience to reflect on the preciousness of life and the search for meaning and purpose.
Paragraph 2:
The use of birthdays and the annual tradition of baking a golden butter cake serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. Each birthday marks a year gone by and a new one beginning, emphasizing the relentless march of time. The cake, prepared from a family recipe handed down through generations, becomes a symbol of continuity and a reminder of the fleeting nature of existence. The repetition of this tradition underscores the theme of existentialism, as Ernestine grapples with the passing of time and her place within it.
Paragraph 3:
Existentialism in "Birthday Candles" is also reflected in the exploration of personal identity and the relationship between the individual and the universe. Ernestine's declaration, "I am a rebel against the universe. I will wage war with the everyday. I am going to surprise God!", showcases her determination to defy the ordinary and make her mark on the world. This quest for individuality and the desire to transcend the mundane reflect existentialist ideals. The play invites us to consider how we define ourselves and our place in the vast cosmos.
Paragraph 4:
The play's use of surrealism and cosmic imagery further enhances the themes of existentialism. The set design, with a night sky cluttered with floating objects, blends the personal and the universal. This blend underscores how individual experiences intersect with the infinite, suggesting that even the most ordinary lives can have universal significance. The play also incorporates references to "King Lear," drawing on the mad monarch's musings about life and time, thus emphasizing the existentialist contemplation of the human condition.
Paragraph 5:
"Birthday Candles" delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of existentialism, exploring themes of depression and the weight of unfulfilled aspirations. As Ernestine reflects on her life, she grapples with the realization that time has slipped away without achieving her desired accomplishments. This sense of missed opportunities and the weight of existential dread can be profound and moving. The play encourages us to confront our own mortality and the impermanence of existence.
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Poignancy and humour
'Birthday Candles' is a poignant and humorous play that takes the audience through the highlights, heartbreaks, and extraordinary moments that make up one woman's ordinary life. The play follows the life of Ernestine Ashworth, from her 17th birthday to her 101st, marked by her mother's golden butter cake and a kaleidoscope of dreams, heartbreaks, and mundane and fulfilling events.
The play opens with 17-year-old Ernestine, a rebel against the universe, feeling insignificant and struggling to find her place in the world. Despite her doubts, she is determined to make something of herself. As the play progresses, we see Ernestine's life unfold through a series of birthdays, with each birthday cake serving as a reminder of the passage of time.
The poignancy of the play lies in its exploration of the preciousness of life and the universal themes of birth, death, love, and despair. The character of Ernestine is relatable, and the audience can see themselves or someone they know in her struggles and triumphs. The play also incorporates elements of humour, such as the appearance of a goldfish, Atman, who represents the fleeting nature of life and the passage of time. Atman has a short memory span of three seconds, and by the end of the play, 102 Atmans have come and gone, a light-hearted yet thought-provoking reminder of life's transience.
The play also incorporates humorous and endearing moments, such as the appearance of Joan, the nervous wife of Ernestine's son Billy, who tries to bond with her through nail polish, and the parental demands Billy faces from his father. These moments provide a contrast to the deeper themes of the play and offer a respite from the heavier moments.
'Birthday Candles' is a play that resonates with all of humanity's triumphs and tragedies. It is a play that will make you laugh and cry, and its poignant and humorous moments will touch your soul and leave a lasting impression.
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The set design
The stage is likely to be sparsely decorated, with only the essential props and furniture to suggest a kitchen, as the play's action often centres around the preparation and baking of the birthday cake. This sparse design allows for a dynamic and flexible performance space, accommodating the play's numerous scene changes and the fluid passage of time.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and this set design anchors the play, giving it a sense of warmth and familiarity. It is a place of comfort and tradition, reflected in the birthday cake recipe passed down through generations. The kitchen also serves as a blank canvas, allowing the audience to project their own life experiences onto the characters and their journeys.
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Frequently asked questions
The play lasts for approximately 100 minutes with no intermission.
Birthday Candles follows the story of Ernestine Ashworth, from her 17th to her 101st birthdays, celebrating each year with her mother's special birthday cake recipe.
The play premiered at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway on April 10, 2022.
Birthday Candles was written by award-winning playwright Noah Haidle.
The play is recommended for ages 14 and above.
