Harold Pinter is perhaps one of the most recognisable names in twentieth century British theatre. His minute observation of the social and emotional life of the ordinary man and his ground-breaking use of hard hitting colloquial dialogue made him a legend in his own time.

His 1960 play, The Caretaker, opened in London to critical acclaim and has since been performed all over the world.

Now, audiences in Greenwich have the chance to revisit this indisputable masterpiece when it opens at the Greenwich Theatre on November 20.

The story is a surreal one which centres on the tramp Davies (pictured, played by Malcolm Storry) who is taken in by a brain damaged young man, Aston (Julian Lewis-Jones).

Aston offers the old man a home in a junk-filled room in the derelict house he lives in. Then the house share spirals into complete freefall.

Davies is a bigoted, failure of a man who has no insight into his own miserable condition. Yet he is vulnerable, dependant on the random charity of strangers and sentimental, which sits side-by-side with his unrelenting arrogance and pride.

He is a truly complex character who is played with unerring accuracy by Storry.

This production, directed by Gari Jones who has worked regularly with Pinter himself, is perhaps as authentic as you can get.

It is lit in a radiant other-worldly fashion that creates an intense contrast with the dark hopelessness of the characters as they talk incessantly past each other never actually communicating.

Yet there is comedy and pathos weaving through the darkness. And Aston's account of how he became brain damaged cannot fail to move you.

Aston's brother Mick (Lee Broadman), who owns the building they inhabit, has extremely violent tendencies and is played with the most expressive body language you could wish for. He takes a sadistic satisfaction in taunting and psychologically torturing the broken tramp yet in the process betrays his own weaknesses and longings.

This English Touring Theatre production started its national tour several weeks ago.

When I saw it at the end of October, it still felt a little awkward, as though kinks were being ironed out.

For example audience had to sit through several seemingly endless scene changes on a darkened stage. By the time it opens in Greenwich however I'm sure these will be far smoother and less intrusive.

q November 20-24, The Caretaker, Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, Tue-Sat 8pm, Wed matinee 3pm, £6-£16, 020 8858 7755.

November 6, 2001 14:45