Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
By Samuel Beckett
Directed by Seth Kubersky
Starring Brett Carson and Kevin Kriegel
Empty Spaces Theater Company at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando FL</strong>
This may be the most feared play in the western canon, yet its one of the most humane. On a low rise near a seemingly dead tree, Vladamir (Carson) and Estragon (Kriegel) hang out daily, waiting for Godot to arrive and save them from meaninglessness. Their feet hurt, their clothes dusty, food is sparse, and Estragon is beat nightly for reasons no one understands, least of all his attackers. What’s the point? Ah, that’s THE question, and we’ll discuss it in a few lines.
People often say “Nothing happens in this play”, but that’s patently absurd. Shortly after we meet Gogo (Estargon) and Didi (Vladamir), their peace and quiet is intruded upon by Pozzo (Christian Kelty, playing himself) and his obedient and nearly mute carrier Lucky (Josh Geoghagan, playing Lucky). Pozzo is well off, curious about Kriegel and Carson, and completely oblivious to their fate. The bones that fall from his lunch are a great boon to Vladamir and Estrogen, as their insights are to him. As he moves across their space, ultimate exiting stage left, a boy (Corey Volence) arrives and politely informs the pair that unfortunately, Godot will be unable to appear this evening, but might certainly appear tomorrow.
Life can be comedy even in its bitterest moments, and I’ve seen more laughter at funerals than weddings. Director Kubersky plays the pieces as a silent comedy with pratfalls, juggling, and motions requisitioned from Chaplain, Keaton, and Theda Bara. Careful attention will inform the viewer exactly who and what everything is, why its there, and what to expect. GoGo and Didi pair up because it’s all too much for one man, Pozzo is the world at large tormenting its servants for which attention they are greatly appreciative, and the easy interpretation of Godot is that of the divine spirit that infuses us, but is always a few centuries late for his appointments. I’ll ignore the line “We don’t encourage thinking” and state if “Waiting for Godot” DOESN’T make you think, you might as well be dead. Is there a point to life on this bitch of an earth? Of course. Its’ just a bit subtle, and if you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss it until one day that damn Godot finally does show up.
For more information on Empty Spaces Theater Company, visit http://www.emptyspacestheatre.org</a</em>>
