The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter

Melbourne Comedy Festival 2005

Two men perform The Dumb Waiter. In the background you can hear the noise of at least two other shows coming through. I write to complain and receive a reply along the lines of 'You are lucky we didn't charge you for the other shows too.'

I can't say that I entirely understand the idea of reading a play any more than, say, reading a music score. Or reading a painting? The play is not a complete thing until it has voice and setting and atmosphere. Atmosphere is completely vital to the success of Pinter, no reading can get across the ambiguity, the menace, the unsettling that takes place.

Lawrence Mooney and Matt King created that. They created it despite the insane inane background of hysterical audience show more manufactured laughter and miked standups going on at the same time. The setting created it.

rest here:

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