GORHAM, ME – Hunker down, seal up the doors and windows, don’t go outside… The Birds is almost here! The USM Department of Theatre invites audiences into the dark, unsettling world of Conor McPherson’s The Birds at Russell Hall on the USM Gorham Campus from February 21st through March 2nd.

Adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s short story, the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film, McPherson’s stage version is a gripping, moving look at human relationships in the face of societal collapse. In an isolated house, two strangers take shelter from relentless masses of attacking birds. They find sanctuary but not comfort or peace; there’s no electricity, little food, and a nearby neighbor is watching them. Another refugee arrives with some news of the outside world, but her presence disrupts the delicate balance of survival. Paranoia takes hold inside the makeshift fortress as mistrust and betrayal begin to match the threat of the birds outside.

For director Liz Carlson, the play offers abundant opportunities to explore the human condition amidst societal crisis. She says, “Conor McPherson writes these plays that have a haunting undercurrent of grief, menace, horror, and complexity. There is so much going on beneath the surface of a character in a McPherson play – every time I work on his plays I get to discover things with actors that I never noticed before.”

To bring theatre-goers into the world of the story, the USM Theatre design team has walled off Russell Hall’s 140-seat theater and just 40 audience members per show will be sitting on stage with the four performers. Carlson’s vision is to evoke the claustrophobia of being confined in a small space with strangers while dangers constantly lurk outside. “The design team has taken this idea and run with it, welcoming the audience into the space with us. This closeness invites a specificity and attention to detail from actors and designers alike that isn’t always required when the audience is at a greater distance.”

And while the birds are the external threat, audiences will feel their presence in subtle ways. “I think people come to this play with a certain expectation”, says Carlson. “They see the swarms of birds from the Hitchcock film and expect to see a version of that in the theatre. This play is especially fun because it defies the audience’s expectations while still creating those visceral feelings and reactions that Hitchcock capitalizes on.”

Ticket Info

To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit USM Theatre online at https://usm.maine.edu/department-theatre/box-office-tickets/ or call the USM Theatre Box Office at (207) 780-5151. For more information on USM’s Department of Theatre events and programs, click here. Ticket Prices: $8-$18; Special student & senior pricing Pay-What-You-Can performance on Thursday, February 27th.

The Birds by Conor McPherson from a story by Daphne du Maurier, directed by Liz Carlson

February 21-March 2, 2025 Russell Hall, USM Gorham Campus

Performances:

Friday, February 21, 7pm

Saturday, February 22, 7pm

Sunday, February 23, 2pm

Wednesday, February 26, 10am

Thursday, February 27, 7pm (pay-what-you-can)

Friday, February 28, 10am

Friday, February 28, 7pm

Saturday, March 1, 7pm

Sunday, March 2, 2pm

Content Advisory & Age Recommendation:

Content advisory: Strong language, adult themes

Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program, contact Janice Gardner at (207)780-5289 or janice.gardner@maine.edu.

Hearing impaired: call USM’s telex / TDD number (207)780-5646

L-R – USM Students Ellie Backman as Julia, Lucious K. Fox as Nat, Emma Graffam as Diane in rehearsal. Photos by Kat Moraros Photography.