Teens tackle Pinter play

Bringing the works of one of English literature's most beloved modern playwrights to life is challenging for any group of actors let alone three Hamilton teenagers.

But when Michael Potts and Ben and James Cain take to the stage at the Waikato Times Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival to perform Harold Pinter's The Caretaker next week, they will be doing just that.

The Caretaker, first performed in 1960, details the interactions between two brothers, Aston and Mick, as they take care of an old drifter named Davies.

The dark two-hour performance (including an interval) is often recognised as Pinter's breakthrough play.

He went on to win the 2005 Nobel Laureate in Literature before dying on Christmas Eve last year.

Director Michael Potts, 19, said the darkness of The Caretaker would come as a shock to some festival goers.

"It will be, bluntly, disturbing. Hamilton people probably haven't seen something like this before," he said.

"You laugh but you do not know why. It's an uncomfortable laughter I suppose."

The former Hillcrest High student will be joined by brothers Ben and James Cain, 19 and 16 respectively.

Mr Potts, a self-described "Pinter buff" described the performance of another of the English laureate's acclaimed plays, The Dumb Waiter by Maverick Artist Productions, as his highlight of the 2008 Summer Festival.

He said he was looking forward to the atmosphere created in the intimate Perfume Garden, where the play will be performed.

"Our setting is almost quite ironic. It's quite a claustrophobic play really, so it will be a bit weird, but cool."

The Caretaker will be performed on Monday and Tuesday in the Hamilton Gardens' Perfume Garden. Both performances will begin at 8pm. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children and students. They are available from Ticket Direct.

- © Fairfax NZ News