Waiting in the basement of an old rooming house for their as-yet-unidentified target, two hitmen who have always followed through on their assignments find it impossible to comply with culinary orders that arrive, without explanation, by dumb waiter. Slapstick, it’s not. JackDonkey Productions launched in 2022 with the goal of marrying working-class themes to absurdism.
That makes British playwright Harold Pinter’s 1957 classic “The Dumb Waiter” an especially bold Fringe choice somewhere on par with “Waiting for Godot.” A general lack of happenings puts extra pressure on long silences, odd arguments, off-stage movements and other Pinter-esque mechanics that echo realism. The actors truly deliver, even if the source material isn’t for everyone.
Presented by JackDonkey Productions at the Open Eye Theatre; 10 p.m. Aug.
8, 8:30 p.m. Aug 10 Still trying to decide what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews at twincities.
com/tag/fringe-festival , with each show rated on a scale of Must See, Worth Considering, Could Be Worse or You Can Skip. The Minnesota Fringe Festival is presenting more than 100 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 1–11 around Minneapolis.
Visit MinnesotaFringe.org for ticket and show information. Related Articles Theater | Fringe review: In ‘Looking For Justice (In All The Wrong Places),’ lessons worth hearing get lost in disorganized storytelling Theater | Fringe review: ‘Parts’ is partway there, but needs more punchline Theater | Fringe review: ‘Antistrophe to an Andro-Sapphic Tragedy’ reflects on complicated, confusing experience of holding onto one’s values amid loss Theater | Fringe review: A live advice seminar, ‘What You Need To Do Is!’ helps you handle grown-folk business Theater | Fringe review: ‘The Greenhouse’ tries to plant seeds of interpretation on environmentalism, community and balance Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) More Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window).
