The first production of The Caretaker at the Arts Theatre in London on April 27, 1960, met with an enthusiastic audience response. In his book The Life and Work of Harold Pinter, biographer Michael Billington quoted the Daily Herald's description of the play's reception: "Tumultuous chaos. Twelve curtain calls. And then, when the lights went up, the whole audience rose to applaud the author who sat beaming in the circle." Early reactions from the critics were positive as well. Billington noted that the News Chronicle's critic wrote, "This is the best play in London." Michael Scott, in his book Harold Pinter: The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, The Homecoming, quoted critic Charles Marowitz: "The Caretaker, Pinter's latest play, is a national masterpiece." Indeed the play was recognized as such by others; it received the Evening Standard Award for best play of 1960.

Many critics compared The Caretaker to Samuel Beckett's...