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Waiting for Godot
Oct. 25th, 2024 10:38 amLast night, I went to see Waiting for Godot at the Royal Haymarket - and it was glorious!
I first saw the play in 2009, when it starred Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, which I remember being a stand-out theatre experience, but I wasn't sure if it was the play I loved or just the casting.
It was both.
It turns out - I like absurdism! Which shouldn't have been a surprise, since my all-time favourite play is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (which this did remind me of quite a bit).
Waiting for Godot leaves a lot of space for different interpretations and different choices that can be made directorially or by the actors.
And, it could have just been me, but this production seemed to be a lot to do with love.
The physicality of the different relationships presented a huge amount of love for Estragon on the part of Vladimir - there was hugging and hand-holding, but it seemed very one-sided. And, interestingly, Lucky portrayed a lot of love for Pozzo in the second half (when he stroked his master's hands before putting the whip and the rope into them, I almost burst into tears), even though Pozzo treats him really badly.
So, it felt to me like it was about how love can trap you in difficult or unhealthy situations and prevent you from finding your own place in the world and progressing with your life.
Regardless, it was wonderful and I loved it.
I often say (about books, films, TV, theatre) - I wish I liked stuff more and I wish I liked more stuff.
I liked this a whole hell of a lot!
I first saw the play in 2009, when it starred Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, which I remember being a stand-out theatre experience, but I wasn't sure if it was the play I loved or just the casting.
It was both.
It turns out - I like absurdism! Which shouldn't have been a surprise, since my all-time favourite play is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (which this did remind me of quite a bit).
Waiting for Godot leaves a lot of space for different interpretations and different choices that can be made directorially or by the actors.
And, it could have just been me, but this production seemed to be a lot to do with love.
The physicality of the different relationships presented a huge amount of love for Estragon on the part of Vladimir - there was hugging and hand-holding, but it seemed very one-sided. And, interestingly, Lucky portrayed a lot of love for Pozzo in the second half (when he stroked his master's hands before putting the whip and the rope into them, I almost burst into tears), even though Pozzo treats him really badly.
So, it felt to me like it was about how love can trap you in difficult or unhealthy situations and prevent you from finding your own place in the world and progressing with your life.
Regardless, it was wonderful and I loved it.
I often say (about books, films, TV, theatre) - I wish I liked stuff more and I wish I liked more stuff.
I liked this a whole hell of a lot!
