Thanks to the generous Kirsty, Guy and I went to see ‘The Dumb Waiter‘ (and other pieces) at the Oxford Playhouse (link). Not only was there a free ‘press’ buffet, but Pinter himself was there. I hadn’t seen this production, or even this play, in his absence before, but I would guess that it was his presence that made all the old ladies chuckle at bit too loudly at all the clever ‘gags’.
But most of all, I was intrigued at sitting among the (supposedly) cultured set being amused by what simply appeared to be everday-life. Sure, there was the odd clever turn-of-phrase, but these “assorted and curious characters” that the production notes praise don’t seem to really be such glorious inventions — they may holiday in the worlds of Pinter�s double-handers; but they really come from every town: eating, drinking, and living the streets.
[Pause]
Or is that just the cleverness of it all?
[Pause]
If so, why pay �20, when you can get a cup of tea in any late-night cafe for 30p?
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I have often seen reminiscences of people I have never even heard of, and I fail to see -- because I do not happen to be a 'Somebody' -- why my blog should not be interesting. My only regret is that I did not commence it when I was a youth.
