Waiting For Godot (The SOB Review) – Studio 54, Roundabout, New York, New York
** (out of ****)Samuel Beckett is an acquired taste. There, I've said it.
I had joked shortly before my performance that I’d been waiting my entire life to see
Waiting For Godot. I could have waited a lot longer.
While some may have buzzed
ad nauseum about how
Anthony Page’s revival may be the best for Beckett’s
Waiting For Godot in over 50 years, consider this: more than five long decades have passed since the existential, absurdist play
last trod Broadway’s boards.
Make that Broadway boreds.
Maybe it was my decided lack of sleep the night prior to finally seeing this play, but yours truly found himself waiting for just one thing -- that this seemingly interminable play would end. And that was long before the end of Act One.
Sure, there are some terrific performances from a top-shelf cast, lead by
Nathan Lane as Estragon and
Bill Irwin as Vladimir. In fact,
John Glover’s breathtaking turn as the utterly dehumanized and most unfortunate Lucky was among the most haunting portrayals of the last year
But decent performances and present day parallels aside, this was one snooze-inducing revival. And Beckett’s ironic patter about boredom near the close of the first act gave me no encouragement:
ESTRAGON:
In the meantime, nothing happens.
POZZO:
You find it tedious?
ESTRAGON:
Somewhat.
POZZO:
(to Vladimir). And you, Sir?
VLADIMIR:
I've been better entertained.
Yes indeed. Same here. Same here.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Anthony Page, Bill Irwin, Broadway, John Glover, Nathan Lane, Play, Revival, Samuel Beckett, The SOB Review, Waiting For Godot
Tale Of Two Openings: Working 9 To GodotWhile
Vice President Joe Biden is busy dispensing
his own personal advice against being in "confined spaces," two of them -- namely Broadway's
Marquis Theatre and
Studio 54 -- are playing host this evening to the final two openings of the 2008-09 Theatrical Season.
That's right. Both
9 To 5 and
Waiting For Godot are opening tonight at the very same time. I mean, what are
Joyce Randolph and all the other theatre mavens to do? Seriously, did
anyone think to reschedule? And really, what a way to make a living!
This certainly marks the very first time I'm aware of that two Broadway shows have scheduled their openings for the same evening.
Dear readers, are you aware of any opening night conflicts in the Great White Way's storied history, or is this indeed a first?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: 9 To 5, Broadway, Musical, Opening Night, Play, Waiting For Godot
Waiting For GodotIt's been over 51 years since
Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic
Waiting For Godot was last performed on Broadway. And to date, there have only been 65 actual performances on the Great White Way of one of the stage's more uniquely famous titles.
While the
Seattle Repertory Company's upcoming revival of
Waiting For Godot isn't even due in the
Emerald City until January 2009, that hasn't stopped the producers from waiting to announce that they're officially waiting for a Broadway berth soon after.
Helmed by Tony Award-winning director
Garry Hynes (
The Beauty Queen of Leenane) and starring Tony Award winning actor
Bill Irwin (
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), the Seattle Repertory Theatre
describes its new revival:
On its way to Broadway, this production features acclaimed film, television, and stage actor Bill Irwin under the direction of Tony-award-winning director Garry Hynes. Considered by many to be the most significant English language play of the 20th century, this absurdist comedy places two Charlie Chaplin-like tramps in the middle of nowhere to await the mysterious Godot. Don’t miss the chance to see this vaudevillian masterpiece.
First presented on Broadway in
59-performance run (April 19-June 9, 1956) at the
John Golden Theatre,
Herbert Berghof directed
Bert Lahr,
E. G. Marshall,
Alvin Epstein (who appeared in the recent
Brooklyn Academy of Music revival of Beckett's
Endgame),
Kurt Kasznar and
Luchino Solito de Solis.
The very next year, Berghof assumed the helm once again for its one and only revival at the
Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Lasting a mere 6 performances, the 1957 run had a twist. It included a cast that was entirely black, including
Bert Chamberlain,
Geoffrey Holder,
Earle Hyman,
Rex Ingram and
Mantan Moreland.
Now, all these years later,
Waiting For Godot is back. Will it actually be worth the wait?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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Labels: Bill Irwin, Broadway, First Word On New Show, Garry Hynes, Revival, Seattle, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Transfer, Waiting For Godot
