Everyone's 'Waiting For Godot'
April appears to be the month theatre goers of two major cities get to appreciate Samuel Beckett’s finest work. “Waiting For Godot” is being staged both in London and on Broadway in NY starring prominent stage actors. I have to admit, I’m really thrilled about this! The play itself is truly unique and is considered to be one of the finest works written in the English language.
The play opened yesterday on Broadway (in previews) starring none other than Nathan Lane (
) and Bill Irwin. I think both were perfect choices for the parts of Estragon and Vladimir, the two clownish protagonists of the play. I can just hear Nathan saying “We are all born mad. Some remain so.” I can even envision the typical Lanesque head tilt and nod as he says it! This exchange should also be brilliant,
Estragon: What about hanging ourselves?
Vladimir: Hmm. It'd give us an erection.
Estragon: (excited). An erection!
Vladimir: With all that follows. Where it falls mandrakes grow. That's why they shriek when you pull them up. Did you not know that?
Estragon: Let's hang ourselves immediately!
You just can’t go wrong with actors like Nathan and Irwin! The play also stars John Goodman and John Glover as Pozzo and Lucky. Goodman is known for his comedic work whereas Glover has played the villain for quite some time now on various television series including Smallville and Heroes. It’s going to be interesting seeing him in something different. They both make a great addition to the cast.
The London adaptation opens at the end of April. Even though I won’t be able to view the NY one, this is one I’m definitely not going to miss! The play will be staged at the Royal Haymarket Theatre and stars two major thespians: Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. McKellen is one of my all time favorite actors and I am REALLY excited to see him on stage for the first time! His voice is superb for the stage and his acting is so great that it has dubbed him the title of Knighthood in the UK. Patrick Stewart is as great as actor as McKellen, on stage and off. The first time I ever saw him was when I was I kid, in Star Trek TNG as Jean Luc Picard and I loved him! Since then I’ve seen him and appreciated him in an array of films but most of all I value his stage work. I got to see him in 2007 as Macbeth in London and his performance as the evil King of Scotland was one of the best performances I have ever seen on stage. He really stole the show. Both actors are primarily considered to be classic actors but they have done work in the field of comedy as well. Both have appeared on Ricky Gervais’ ‘Extras’ and were hilarious! It should be interesting to see what they will do with the parts of Estragon and Vladimir. The play is also directed by Sean Mathias!!
The play itself is extremely complex. For one, the characters seem to go in and out of their consciousness. The wordplay and poetry in the language is brilliant! The minimalist setting was extraordinary at the time (there is only a tree on-stage) and coupled with the character’s actions is a fine example of the Theatre of the Absurd. The question on everyone's mind however is “Who on earth is Godot?” Beckett has never really revealed the identity of Godot. He has said however that it is not God and stated that “if by Godot I had meant God I would [have] said God, and not Godot.” So the interpretations are limitless.
I can’t say I am a huge fan of “Waiting For Godot” but I love some of Beckett’s other work like “Krapp’s Last Tape.” His work has influenced many other great playwrights including Harold Pinter (who is amazing!! No play like “The Dumb Waiter”) and Tom Stoppard. Stoppard recently did a brilliant job in translating Chekhov’s “Ivanov” which was staged at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London starring Kenneth Branagh. I loved the changes he made and Branagh’s performance was breathtaking. You can see traces of Beckett in both Pinter and Stoppard's work. It’s wonderful that a great playwright is being honored by having his work staged by the finest on-stage actors of both continents!
