Henry Woolf, right, shines as the homeless man in Persephone’s The Caretaker.

The Caretaker is the latest offering of the Persephone season. Written by Harold Pinter, the play focuses on two brothers who invite a homeless man into their home, creating conflict and chaos.

The Caretaker is an absurdist three act spectacular reminiscent of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot. Both plays are light on plot and instead rely heavily on character interaction. The Caretaker moves quickly; the dialogue is fast and cutting, and the talented actors create instant chemistry on stage.

The play is anchored by Henry Woolf’s performance as the homeless man, whose name is either Mac Davies or Bernard Jenkins — though the character might be lying.

Woolf infuses the homeless man with life and brings a sad yet relatable element to the role. The actor makes audience members sympathetic toward his character while still allowing them empathize with the brothers. Woolf is magnificent: once his character enters, it is hard to take your eyes off him.

The two brothers, Aston (Chip Chuipka) and Mick (James O’Shea), have equally entertaining personalities. Aston is the quiet, reserved type and Mick is high-strung, angry, dynamic and dramatic.

Chuipka plays Aston with an intense, subdued energy. He perfectly crafts mannerisms for the Aston character, and his vocal inflections, while subtle, paint a strong picture of the characters personality.

O’Shea brings both rage and comic sensibility to Mick, the younger of the two brothers. Mick will both infuriate and entertain the audience. O’Shea’s character is a foil to the other two. The way Mick toys with his older brother and the homeless man is a treat to watch in a cringe-worthy, albeit funny, way.

The chemistry between the three actors is really the highlight of the play.

The direction by Del Surjik is low-key, perfect for the intimacy the play intends to evoke. Surjik takes a quiet approach, letting the actors work while he remains focused on the tone.

The Caretaker is not to be missed.

The Caretaker is currently at Persephone Theatre. It runs from March 8-25 and tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

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Photo: Electric Umbrella