In 1964, a brash, new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes onto the scene: Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self-confidence and his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all time. Yet at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test.

在他的成名作《生日晚会》里，品特以卡夫卡式的方法，描述一个人莫名其妙地受到两个陌生人的诱骗和威胁，他试图逃跑，但还是被跟踪；剧中的荒诞性从隐喻一下子跳跃到了具体，好像任何人在任何地方都得不到安全。正如哈罗得·霍布森所说：“虽然你到了地球最远的地方，在最不受人注意的小镇藏在最隐蔽的住处，但终有一天可能出现两个陌生人。他们在找你，你无论如何是逃不掉的。而某个人也在寻找他们。到处都充满了恐怖。”因此，品特的剧作充满了政治的寓意，表现了对社会现实的焦虑。