After seeing 'The Three Musketeers' just a week ago and not enjoying it as much as expected, I wasn't sure what Waiting for Godot would hold. Out of our theater clan, only my mother had read the play and was very nervous if we would like or think it was just way far out there. To our great surprise and by unanimous decision, Waiting for Godot is the biggest success of the Stratford 2013 season thus far.
Beckett's masterpiece follows the story of two men over the course of two days. Alone on an empty road, Estragon and Vladimir are waiting, waiting for Godot. He is to meet them on this road and fulfill a purpose that the two know will change their lives. As they wait, they meet a traveler named Pozzo and his servant Lucky who engage the two for a short time before continuing on this road. The two are left alone, and decide to return the next day to wait for Godot. The second day begins just as the first, and like the first, Estragon and Vladaimir meet Pozzo and Lucky once more. However, Pozzo and Lucky do not recognize them and do not remember meeting and discussing life with them the previous day. The two continue on their way, leaving Estragon and Vladimir alone once more: waiting for Godot. But even when the two decide to finally leave this road, they do not move and continue to wait.
After watching Beckett's masterpiece, I was immediately reminded of Tom Stoppard's Rozencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The two have no free will and are forced to play out the destiny written for them. Stoppard's play eventually leads the two to their death (SPOILER), and they find themselves doing it all over again. Beckett's characters are much like Stoppard's in their lack of will power and knowledge of their circumstances, and because of this Waiting for Godot requires top actors to fill some heavy and important shoes. Estragon (Stephen Ouimette) and Vladimir (Tom Rooney) were absolutely breathtaking and proved themselves true masters of absurd theater very quickly. Their relationship and interactions made Beckett's play an absolute joy to watch and left the audience thinking about life and our everyday choices in a whole new way. Their fellow comrade Pozzo (Brian Dennehy) was equally captivating and after watching Dennehy (and yes, I am talking about the TV, movie and Broadway legend) in his first ever Shakespeare I was extremely excited to see him act in a whole new light as Pozzo. He was beyond amazing, from the booming of his voice to his commanding stage presence. Lucky (Randy Hughson) was also amazing as a perfect opposite to Dennehy. Hughson spent most of his stage time carrying Pozzo's belongings, walking back and forth to serve Pozzo and completely silent. Only given one fairly long monologue, Hughson's role relied more on his movements rather than his thoughts and feelings, showing a more restrained form of acting that was not inferior to the others in any way. The four put together were a marvel and an absolute dream cast that I wish could be captured on film.
Since seeing Godot I have had nothing but absolute great things to say. I am so incredibly glad to have seen this production and would see it again in a heartbeat. My favorite trip to Stratford by far this season, but in the words of Samuel Beckett: "Nothing to be done"
For stage photos and videos from this production, visit
http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/OnStage/productions.aspx?id=20243&prodid=47015
For more information about the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, visit
http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Default.aspx
**Look out for future blogs/reviews on Stratford productions**
