Liberty Free stages ‘Dumbwaiter’

Nobel Laureate’s play is a ‘comedy of menace’

LIBERTY, NY — The Liberty Free Theatre presents Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter’s comedy-drama “The Dumbwaiter” Thursday through Sunday, October 1 through 4. All performances are at 7:30 p.m.

“The Dumbwaiter” is about two hit men, played by Michael Frizalone and Paul Jannicola, holed up in a dingy basement kitchen, waiting to be sent out on their next job. The play is one of the first that established Pinter as a master of what would become known a “comedy of menace.” Paul Austin directs. Alexis Siroc has designed the set and Jon-Jon Thomas designed the lights.

Harold Pinter (1930 -2008) was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, director, political activist and poet. He was among the most influential British playwrights of modern times. In 2005 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Beginning with his first play, Pinter’s writing career spanned over 50 years and produced 29 original stage plays, 27 screenplays, many dramatic sketches, radio and TV plays, poetry, one novel, short fiction, essays, speeches and letters. Pinter’s best-known plays include “The Birthday Party,” “The Caretaker,” “The Homecoming,” and “Betrayal,” each of which he adapted to film.

Frizalone is an actor/writer/singer. He has performed on stage and film from Bangor, Maine to New York City. He recently played in a new film by Peking Productions that was shot here in Sullivan County.

Jannicola is a singer/songwriter and multi instrument musician. His compositions have been featured in the award-winning animated short, “Hardly Workin,’” the acclaimed episodic web series, Tra5hTa1k and MTV’s comedic Life in the Virtual Hills. He is also an animation cinematographer whose work has been seen on the Jumbotron at 1 Times Square.

Admission for the performance is free. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. The audience is invited to gather after the performance for food, drink and music. The theatre is located at 109 South Main Street. For more information call 845/292-3788.