Waiting For Godot

I studied Waiting for Godot briefly in high school and liked it a lot, even if I didn't fully understand it - but hey, who fully understands absurdist theatre anyway, especially at 16. So this production, staring Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati, was it what I expected? Yes, it's Waiting for Godot, there's not really much you can do with it other than just do it. And they did it very well I felt! Whishaw and Msamati had great rapport and timing as the Vladimir and Estragon, making the nonsensical dialogue have a familiar-feeling rhythm and meaning to it, constantly keeping the show moving.

The story, being absurd, is quite simple for anyone who isn't familiar. They are waiting for a man named Godot, but he doesn't come. It is unclear how long they have been waiting, and also unclear as to why, but they choose to keep waiting nonetheless. There are some additional characters who come by, connected to Godot and not, but their presence only fills time differently, not with meaning.

What I liked

The set was intriguing to me, I enjoyed the choice to depict an empty plain, seemingly rocky and dirt like, but then to cut it off like an unloading videogame chunk. The sharp edge that is ignored as a change by the characters felt like it added a Brechtian element to the show.

The cast were all very strong, but Tom Edden's monologue as Lucky in act 2 was probably the most memorable. The otherwise unspeaking role is extremely striking in his physicality and his one moment of what feels like unending fast paced speech was extremely captivating.

What wasn't my favourite

I enjoyed the show overall, absolutely, I did, but I can't deny there are some moments that are boring… And sometimes those moments are long. It's not the kind of show I'm looking to see multiple times, nor one I'm seeking out to put a bit of pep in my step after a long day. It is unfortunately just a fact that I, a musical theatre student, can only appreciate so much absurdism in the form of staleness.

Overall

This production of Waiting For Godot was great, the cast were all really strong and it had a very clear tone in it's exploration of Beckett's absurdist text. Though this show isn't one I will seek out seeing again I am still very glad to have seen it.