August 4th Performance and Post Script of Godot

[galedreamer]

I attended Godot on August 4th, a Monday evening that included a post-script discussion with the actors.  I sat in the front row of the center section, but it’s such an intimate theatre, there is no bad seat.  While there was a handful of Randy fans present, it was a subscriber-rich audience.  That translates into many attendees being elderly and

Comments

[metafascinating]

I loved reading your thoughts on the play. :) I was there the evening of the 2nd and also the 4th and it was really amazing how differently the audience responded on the two nights, On the 2nd it seemed like the audience was laughing from start to finish in all the right places, Randy got a thunderous applause after his monologue, there was a standing ovation at the end and then two curtain calls. I was so surprised on the 4th that it was such a different experience. I didn't notice anything that the actors did differently when comparing the two nights. I did see a couple of people sleeping--one elderly man (on the left of the stage) slept through the entire first act. Also the air conditioner wasn't working that night and it did start to feel claustrophobic in there at the end. Maybe that also effected audience response.
The Q&A was really interesting. I'm glad Randy came out--I really didn't think he would. It could be that Stephen did a lot of the talking because he thought Randy didn't want to--I'm just speculating of course. The night of the 2nd Stephen jumped in when Randy was getting pics with fans and lightened up the situation by joking and saying it was like the fans were their very own paparazzi and he felt just like Angelina Jolie--very cute and funny. You could tell that Randy did not want to be there and kept edging toward the exit. Stephen seemed to recognize that and tried to help him make a get away. I did enjoy hearing Randy's response to the Christ-like figure questions--thought it was cute when he said something like Beckett used christian imagery without really believing it--and Randy drew out the word be--liev--ing. :)
I would love to see this play again--Randy's acting is beyond words.

[galedreamer]

Thanks for the nice comment. Opening night audiences definitely differ from the Monday night crowd, a night most theatres are dark. While Randy fans may have chosen Monday for the Q&A (and for me, lack of traffic on the Mass Pike), I do think the season subscribers tend to be quiet. Breathing favored over laughing.

I didn't notice the air conditioning not working, though now that you mention it, I didn't use the jacket I brought with me, expecting to be cold in my sleeveless dress. If the air was thick, that could explain someone elderly falling asleep.

I had attended the Equus Q&A where Randy attended (though he uttered only one single syllable, "no"), so I totally expected him to show this time. In fact, I think the whole Equus cast stayed for the Q&A, horses and all. It was only when Kate sat in one of the seats this time that I got worried. And I was disappointed "Pozzo" skipped out, though he may well have needed to for personal reasons.

I've been to a couple of the opening parties, and while Randy tolerates his fans for pictures and autographs, I agree that he is evidently miserable. And it looks like Stephen's enjoying Randy's fans way more than Randy, though of course, that wouldn't take much.

I concur about Randy. His acting in this play is indescribably amazing.

[metafascinating]

I had attended the Equus Q&A where Randy attended (though he uttered only one single syllable, "no")
Did he seem uncomfortable being at the Q&A? Do you remember the question?

And it looks like Stephen's enjoying Randy's fans way more than Randy, though of course, that wouldn't take much.
LOL! Truer words have never been spoken. :) I got a pic taken with Stephen and he said that he was laughing in it so he wanted to do one more. That was certainly a different experience. :) He was very at ease with the crowd and seemed like the life of the party type.

[galedreamer]

You forced me to check my own LJ archives for 2005. Turns out the word was not "no," but "fear." It was in response to why Randy wanted to play the part of Alan in Equus. For somewhat more detail, here was my original post:
http://galedreamer.livejournal.com/37899.html