Ok so I've been writing this blog for a few years now and it's only last week I even considered that other people might be reading it when I came across the 'comments' section and found some that were months old! I feel bad about not responding, especially where people actually asked me questions. It seems I never set the blog up to email me when I get a comment and I never thought to look, mainly because I write this blog primarily for myself. I've also signed on for the new-look layout of the blogger dashboard, which won't affect the look of the blog itself but will take a bit of getting used to behind the scenes. So, if you are reading this... hi!
basics...
On with the review then... Waiting for Godot was another of those free/volunteer shifts at the Playhouse, and another play I knew nothing about. Written by Samuel Beckett, the play is mostly a two-hander between Estragon (Patrick Robinson) and Vladmir (Jeffrey Kissoon) as they wait for their friend. Nothing much happens, twice, apart from a visit from a posh guy called Pozzo (Cornell S John) and his creepy slave Lucky (Guy Burgess).
I've read that this is supposed to be one of the best plays ever written. But then you shouldn't believe everything you read should you? I can see how theatrical, literary types would get excited by this as it borders on the pretentious. It is saved from this fate though by some terrific acting and surprisingly funny and kinetic performances. Having studied English Literature at school and uni I've since become tired of looking for meaning in texts and I'm much happier to watch something that doesn't require footnotes and background reading to enjoy. I think that Godot would have been less interesting to watch in this performance as the all-black cast speak with Caribbean accents and there's an edge to some of the dialogue that wouldn't be present with a white cast, for example Lucky's status as a slave and the leads' discussion about hanging themselves from a tree brings to mind lynching. Whether these associations are intentional or not is hard to say, it could be my own curious take, but either way they add more depth to a play that could have gone either way.
but...
Waiting for Godot is loooong. Not only does nothing particularly exciting happening, it takes 90 minutes each act to do so. And after a hard day's work I wasn't that fussed to have to do my volunteer thing til 11pm on a Friday night!
briefly...
A bit too amibuous for my tastes, this was still a good night of theatre, with great performances from Robinson and Kissoon, sharing an easy chemistry as the two lead tramps.
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