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Overview
The Dumb Waiter is a one-act play by British Nobel laureate Harold Pinter that premiered in 1960. The play is set in a basement room, where two hitmen, Ben and Gus, are awaiting orders from their unseen boss. The arrival of mysterious orders through a dumbwaiter becomes a catalyst for tension, revealing the characters’ strained relationship and existential uncertainties. Pinter’s enigmatic dialogue and dramatic pauses create an atmosphere of suspense, and the play serves as a potent exploration of breakdowns in communication, existential anxiety, and the absurdity of human existence.
Read the full play summary, an in-depth character analysis of Gus, and explanations of important quotes from The Dumb Waiter.
