The following is an interview with Brenda James (Stargate Atlantis, Slither, The Outer Limits) regarding the recent launch of The Odyssey Theatre’s production of Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with James about her interest in joining the production and tackling the work of Harold Pinter, what she hopes that audiences may take away from the performance, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: The Odyssey Theatre recently launched a visiting production of Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter, two rarely staged Pinter one-acts. As one of the performers in the one-act “Party Time,” what initially intrigued you about the production?
Brenda James: It is a rare challenge to be able to attempt to solve a Pinter piece. It is a type of play, writing, and character that completely stretches me as an actor and invades my thoughts. There is a dissonance and rhythm that is unique and to collaborate with such talented actors, plus being directed by Jack Heller is a dream come true.
BD: What can you tell us about your shared creative process in working with the cast and crew to bring the story to life on the stage?
BJ: The cast came ready for the challenge and Jack Heller had us work immediately undermining conventional relationships and opening up possibilities as we tried to unravel “Party Time.” We spent a lot of time working separately on scenes and when we all came together it was, and still is, a challenge to attack the rhythm of Pinter head on and still allow the individual work to continue to simmer beneath the surface.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums – no matter the medium. How do you feel that this story examining power and privilege may connect with and impact audiences, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it might inspire?
BJ: “Party Time” was written by Pinter in 1991, at the end of the Cold War. The irony of producing it in 2026 is that it feels even more relevant now: the middle class stepping over homeless people, using automated checkouts at the grocery store, watching the gap between what we earn and what it costs to survive shrink, facing layoffs as ICE roams our streets and airports. We are turning our heads, simply hoping it won’t affect us or our families. “Party Time” is focused on the 1%, but it is relatable if we personalize where we are in this. Also, the power struggle to reduce the rights of women and make us simply pawns and toys is evident in the play, at a time when women’s rights are being challenged, again with little protest…even by women.
BD: What makes the Odyssey Theatre the perfect home for this production?
BJ: The Odyssey Theatre is the perfect home for this production because audiences that go to the Odyssey expect to be challenged; they aren’t here to simply be entertained. It is brave for Jack Heller and the producers to bring Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter to an LA audience with LA actors and this is the perfect venue.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
BJ: Sex, Lies and Pinter marks my second play back in LA after a hiatus raising my two kids. The first was playing Penny Sycamore in You Can’t Take It With You at The Group Theatre. It has been a whirlwind of creativity coming back. Not only am I teaching at The Strasberg Institute, but I’ve been cast in numerous character roles—one in the true crime thriller, Dorothea, by Chad Ferrin, as a grieving mother in Henry by Melissa Schilling (coming out next month), and as a sociopathic hospice worker in Mr. & Mrs. Death.
My hope is to find my way back into the James Gunn universe, especially as it marks the 20-year anniversary of Slither, where I played the iconic Brenda Monster, and to rejoin Stargate Atlantis to reprise the role of botanist Katie Brown—even if only as an Easter egg.
I’m excited to be acting again, especially as an older woman who is aging. I’ve been encouraged by actors like Jennifer Coolidge, Deirdre O’Connell, Frances Conroy, Allison Janney, Margo Martindale, Dianne Wiest, and the late Catherine O’Hara. There is a lot of life out there, and I’m looking forward to continuing to explore every nook I can.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about and purchase tickets for Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter?
BJ: Six weeks go by quickly, and with the first weekend finished and only three shows a week, I think it’s going to get tough to find tickets. Both one-acts are rare to find, and after you’re hit with “Party Time,” you’re in for a treat watching Susan Priver and Ron Bottitta beguile and captivate in “The Lover.” Director Jack Heller has pushed tirelessly to bring these two plays to life, and we really need the crowds to make them come alive. For more information and to get tickets, go to odysseytheatre.com.
*Main Photo by: Jacques Lorch
