A review by will_cherico
The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter

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.