Starlight’s Spine-Chilling ‘Birds’ Takes Wing
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Dan Ashlock Jr.
As the nights grow longer and Halloween approaches, what better way to embrace the season than with a tale that will have you looking nervously to the skies?
Starlight Community Theater in North Phoenix is set to ruffle some feathers this fall with its gripping adaptation of “The Birds.” This apocalyptic thriller, based on Daphne du Maurier’s short story, promises to be a stark departure from the theater’s usual fare — and a rare dramatic offering in a landscape dominated by comedies and musicals.
“We saw an opportunity to fill that niche,” explains Dan Ashlock Jr., artistic director of Starlight Community Theater and director of “The Birds.”
The production is part of Starlight’s special events series, which showcases smaller, actor-driven plays that don’t require the elaborate sets or large casts typical of its regular season.
Unlike Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film adaptation, this version of “The Birds” takes place months into a global crisis. The audience never sees the winged menace — only hears the ominous sounds of their attacks.
“We’re aiming for old-time radio-style sounds created live, offstage,” Ashlock reveals. “You’ll hear birds thumping against walls, pecking at windows, flapping wings — all created live. This approach fits the story because by the time our play takes place, radios and TVs have stopped working.”
The intimate staging heightens the sense of claustrophobia and isolation felt by the characters.
“Even though they’re in a house, it’s not fully furnished,” Ashlock notes. “It’s likely been raided multiple times by others trying to survive. Our characters are just making do with what’s left.”
This stripped-down setting serves as a backdrop for exploring deeper themes of human nature and societal collapse. The play focuses on four characters who may be the only survivors for miles. Their struggle for survival becomes a crucible for examining complex interpersonal dynamics and the psychological toll of extreme circumstances.
“We deal with heavy themes like abusive relationships — both verbal and physical — extramarital affairs, life, death and suicide,” Ashlock says. “As actors, they need to understand where their characters stand on these issues and how these experiences have shaped them.”
The cast brings a wealth of experience to these challenging roles. Sam McClendon, who plays Nat, has been active with the Trilogy Players and in Atlanta theater. Alex Fausett, portraying Julia, is a Starlight veteran who “practically grew up” at the theater. Pat Drapac, cast as Diane, is a staple of Valley Theater with more than 20 years of experience. Scott Sims, playing the mysterious neighbor Tierney, is a recently retired high school music director making a return to the Starlight stage.
For many in the audience, the play’s themes of isolation and societal breakdown may resonate with recent experiences.
“I think the parallels between what happened during COVID-19 and what happens in this play are quite similar,” Ashlock observes. “The play gives people an opportunity to reflect on how they dealt with the pandemic and how they might handle things differently if — or when — a similar situation occurs again.”
As Starlight Community Theater prepares to take flight with this chilling production, it also looks to the future. This season marks the last in its current location, with plans to move to a new space by next June.
“This season is both a celebration of our current space and a nod to the future,” Ashlock says. “We’re excited about all the possibilities that will come with finding a new location, one that we hope will allow us to be more of a community-driven center than our current space permits.”
“The Birds” promises to be a thought-provoking and suspenseful theatrical experience, offering Valley residents a rare opportunity to see this gripping story brought to life on stage.
‘The Birds’
Oct. 18–20 // Friday 7 p.m. // Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. // Sunday 2 p.m. // Starlight Community Theater // 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Suite 9, Phoenix, AZ 85085 // $20+ // starlightcommunitytheater.com
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