Introduction

Project Timeline

Techniques and Styles in The Caretaker

Who is the Caretaker?

The Caretaker takes place in the upstairs room of a rundown house in West London. The room is full of what appears to be junk including, a lawnmower, gas stove and a statue of the Buddha.

It has three characters: brothers Mick and Aston and a homeless man, Davies.

Aston, who has undergone involuntary electric shock treatment invites Daviesin to his house after rescuing him from a fight in the cafe where he was working as an odd job man.

Aston is looking after the house for his brother, but lives in the one crowded room. He is planning to clear the garden and build a shed. Throughout the play he tries but fails to mend a plug.

Aston makes Davies welcome, offering him tobacco, a pair of shoes, a bed for the night and some money.

Davies announces that he is waiting for the weather to change before he goes down to Sidcup to collect his ‘papers’, which will confirm who he is.

As Aston leaves the flat to buy a saw, Davies tries to follow him. Aston invites him to stay and gives him a key. Left behind Davies starts to examine the objects Aston that has collected.

Mick enters the room, attacking Davies, swiftly throwing him to the ground and demanding “What’s the game?”

Mick continues to interrogate Davies as he lies on the floor. He tells Davies he owns the house offering to let Davies the flat for a reasonable rent.

Aston returns. He has bought Davies a bag to replace the one he has lost. Mick grabs the bag off him, leaving the room when he realizes that Aston wants Davies to have the bag.

Aston tells Davies he is decorating the landing and making a flat for Aston. He offers Davies the job of caretaker.

Next morning Aston wakes Davies so he can go to Sidcup. Davies makes an excuse to avoid going out. Aston tells him of his experiences of undergoing electric shock treatment.

Two weeks later Davies complains to Mick that Aston has started to ignore him. Mick is more interested in his dream of creating a penthouse for himself and Aston.

Davies tells Mick he can help him with the decorating.

Mick leaves on Aston’s return. Davies reluctantly accepts a pair of shoes Aston has bought him.

That night Davies is groaning loudly in his sleep, Aston wakes him as he cannot sleep for the noise. Davies reacts by threatening to return Aston to the hospital where he received his treatment. Aston asks him to leave the house.

Davies leaves, returning with Mick and argues that Aston should be evicted, not him. Mick pretends to agree if Aston is the professional decorator he said he was. Davies, admits he is not. Mick pretends to be surprised. Losing his temper he smashes the stature of the Buddha.

Aston enters the room, faces Mick, they are both smiling. Mick leaves and Davies tries to convince Aston to let him stay. Aston dismisses him saying “You make too much noise.”

For a more detailed synopsis of each act click on the links below:

Act I A Night in Winter
Act II A Few Seconds Later
Act III Two Weeks Later