The Dumb Waiter
The Fortress of Lushington 2215 Burgundy Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70117
In a windowless basement, two hit men await their instructions, navigating the claustrophobic space as best as they can in this stealthy one-act from Harold Pinter. Odd circumstances ensue, but in this production from The Radical Buffoon(s), Pinter's signature absurdism isn't theatrical enough. At each performance, actors James Bartelle and Clint Johnson will flip a coin to determine which hitman each will play that evening. Director Jon Greene predicts "an astounding night of theater in New Orleans."
“Pinter’s ability to lean into ambiguity and mine it for all its confusion and comedy is the perfect thing for our current climate,” explains Greene. “Americans have never been great with ambiguity to begin with. And now, in a world of ever-hardening black-and-white ideological stances, the ambiguous middle ground has become foreign. A place we seem to want to find but feel radically uncomfortable in. That’s where the richest humor lies. And, best of all, it’s exhibited in the most-universal way: Through uproarious physical comedy.”
The show runs March 1–3, 7–10, and 13–17, with a possible extension until March 24. 8 pm each night at the Fortress of Lushington (2215 Burgundy Street). $15–$20. radicalbuffoons.com.