Theatre review: The Dumb Waiter

Our theatre reviewer, Hannah Hobson, shares her thoughts on East Riding Theatre’s production of The Dumb Waiter.

Photography: Gavin Prest

East Riding Theatre is back with a bang or rather with the ominous shuddering mechanism of The Dumb Waiter. This expertly timed staging of Pinter’s one-act masterpiece has an audience on tenterhooks for every minute of its run time.

With any restaging of a classic play, my first thought is always: why now? What makes this play relevant to our current climate? The sheer tension and concision of The Dumb Waiter is somewhat timeless. Watching two men in a room, receiving confusing messages in isolation while they await instruction, however, has never seemed more apt than it is post-lockdown. I felt more sympathy for Gus and Ben than ever.

Martin Hutson’s direction is well-managed and engaging. This production is pacey, the intricacies between the comedic and dramatic moments are so well timed that it is near impossible to look away from the stage. The staging makes expert use of minute changes in dynamic to tell the story.

Photography: Gavin Prest

Both actors are well cast and entirely transformative in their performances. As Gus, Nick Figgis is frenetic and dynamic. Every gesture is well placed, highly controlled even in its frantic energy. An excellent contrast is Frazer Hammil’s Ben, an intense coil of shielded panic as the play’s tension mounts. The violence bubbling at the edge of the action brings to mind contemporary discussions of toxic masculinity. In the capable hands of Figgis and Hammil, Ben and Gus become layered and full characters.

Mention must be made of the excellent set design from Ed Ullyart. The bedroom where Ben and Gus wait is ominous in grimy grays and blacks, working well with Simon Bedwell’s lights to create an apt backdrop to the play’s action. The simplicity of Sylvia Eales’ costume is also a notable part of this puzzle. The aesthetics of the play are muted, subtle and fitting for this compact piece of theatre.

Overall, The Dumb Waiter is a stunning return to form for East Riding Theatre. It is a fantastically compelling night at the theatre. It is running at Beverley’s resident producing house until Saturday 25 September and is a must see for all local lovers of theatre.

[Hannah Hobson – Theatre reviewer]