Reviews

The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter

libbymae583's review

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lamphouse's review

4.0

technically the 1960 samuel french acting edition but there's no listing for that

keir_batchelor's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

thymenvb's review

4.0

I initially thought this was a bit *too* inspired by Beckett's Waiting for Godot but I think I prefer Pinter's slightly more naturalistic approach. It's crazy what haunting feelings this short script provoked!

The gangster thing is not really for me. I get that it's important but a different way of exploring power dynamics might have drawn me in even more

Super intrigued though! Definitely wanna read/see more of his work

will_cherico's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Even knowing the ending, the final lines give me chills. There's so much incredible foreshadowing throughout the play (Ben telling Gus the target will look at him in silence after entering through the door) and so much absurd mystery (where are the food orders coming from?!) that the whole thing casually jumps back and forth across the line of realism. It's a great exercise in subtle character development as well. Ben and Gus start out as hitmen stereotypes and as the show goes on, little details of their outlook on life are revealed in a way that makes the ending so much more crushing.

ebunk's review

challenging funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

asilus98's review

5.0

-He will look at me, then he will look at you.
-He will look at you.

clonazine's review

3.0

Miren que me gusta el absurdo pero acá no me terminó de convencer la historia para mí fue un poco por la traducción. De todas formas muy bueno el concepto y la crítica que hace el autor.

helenfred's review

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

Read for a university class.

I guess I'm logging plays here now. However, I don't think I'm gonna rate them because I find it so hard to compare them to other types of literature. Anyway, this was actually a really interesting read and I found it very enjoyable. It was also short and super fast paced. Excited for the lecture on this.

not_a_bagel's review

challenging dark funny tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Takes a while to get going but when you get past all the small talk and confusion you find two people conflicted beyond belief and struggling just as much as the reader.