Harold Pinter
Play script
English
A one act play, The Dumb Waiter revolves around two would-be assassins waiting to learn what their next assignment will be. These men, Ben and Gus, appear to be polar opposites: Ben takes orders as they come without question, while Gus nervously awaits new assignments, peppering Ben with questions. As the men await their newest assignment an unknown person sends down a series of food orders via a dumb waiter, while the duo’s unseen boss, Wilson, keeps changing their instructions. In the end, it is revealed that Gus is next victim.
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Date of Composition: 1957 - September 1957 Confidence Level
No Linked works have been added to this work record yet.
The events of The Dumb Waiter take place in a basement of a house in Birmingham, the UK's second largest city. Gus suggests going to see a football match at 'Villa' (referring to Aston Villa FC) if they are still in Birmingham the next day.
Type: Script
External Link: https://www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/plays/the-dumb-waiter-iid-129726
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http://stageagent.com/shows/play/5377/the-dumb-waiter
URL
The summary of the play is taken and adapted from the Stage Agent website, a resource for theatre artists.
Add MS 89182/1, British Library Manuscripts
Library archive
Pinter writes to Law in November 1957 to justify his choice of title for the play, with reference to the Encyclopedia Brittanica definition of a dumb waiter.
ADD MS 89094/4, British Library Manuscripts
Library archive
In a letter dated September 1957, Pinter indicates to Woolf that he has written a new play entitled The Shaft.