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dotorsojak's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 stars for Caretaker 2.75 stars for Dumbwaiter
Always hard to rate plays based on a reading alone. Still both of these were interesting to me without being riveting. They are spare and do not use literary language, though Mick goes off on a couple of rants that sound as if the character is supposed to have had some education.
THE CARETAKER is quite a bit longer than THE DUMBWAITER and thus brings up more interesting stuff. I like that neither play pays off in the most obvious way. In both cases two characters are on stage sorta kinda interacting. In “Care” one character is speaking to the turned back of another. In “Dumb” the two characters stare at each other without speaking.
I loved Alan Bates back when he was making movies, BUTLEY being one of my all time favorites. Never saw Bates on the stage, but would’ve liked to have seen him play Mick.
I will read some more Pinter and make some effort to see one of his plays, if only something filmed.
Always hard to rate plays based on a reading alone. Still both of these were interesting to me without being riveting. They are spare and do not use literary language, though Mick goes off on a couple of rants that sound as if the character is supposed to have had some education.
THE CARETAKER is quite a bit longer than THE DUMBWAITER and thus brings up more interesting stuff. I like that neither play pays off in the most obvious way. In both cases two characters are on stage sorta kinda interacting. In “Care” one character is speaking to the turned back of another. In “Dumb” the two characters stare at each other without speaking.
I loved Alan Bates back when he was making movies, BUTLEY being one of my all time favorites. Never saw Bates on the stage, but would’ve liked to have seen him play Mick.
I will read some more Pinter and make some effort to see one of his plays, if only something filmed.
susannah_n's review against another edition
3.0
The Caretaker finished on September 15, 1997; The Dumb Waiter finished on September 10, 1997, both for Modern British Drama class
radbrenfro's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dolorsitamet's review against another edition
3.0
*4 for Dumbwaiter, 3 for caretaker
A note on The Dumbwaiter: This is a curious case of a play, for me. For one, I knew the ending and general plot already...thanks quiz bowl giveaways... And for another I had watched a movie that reminded me of that plot [In Bruges], which prompted me to read the book.
Pinter's works are...typical plays? They take a few moments and make them dramatic. I didn't particularly like or dislike them. Fairly short, too.
I would recommend Dumbwaiter. Godotesque, I think. I didn't care for caretaker much.
Though of course plays are meant to be performed I can't judge properly etc.
A note on The Dumbwaiter: This is a curious case of a play, for me. For one, I knew the ending and general plot already...thanks quiz bowl giveaways... And for another I had watched a movie that reminded me of that plot [In Bruges], which prompted me to read the book.
Pinter's works are...typical plays? They take a few moments and make them dramatic. I didn't particularly like or dislike them. Fairly short, too.
I would recommend Dumbwaiter. Godotesque, I think. I didn't care for caretaker much.
Though of course plays are meant to be performed I can't judge properly etc.
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