Godot’s Worth Waiting For

Waiting for Godot has hit the theatres of London for a limited time only, 55 years on from when it first came to the UK and it still retains as much style and quality as it did over half a century ago. However, this time round the scintillating performance not only equals old records but annihilates them as what was once described as the most dauntingly depressing of plays hits new levels of wit and extravagance, whilst it still holds the powerful themes of depression and hopelessness in its grasp.

The play concerns two old men, Vladimir and Estragon who discuss their lives and talk suicide as they wait for a shady figure who they know as Godot. Whilst waiting they are approached by a slave and his master (although after later inspection of the play it is not clear who is the slave and who the master) who are named Pozzo and the seemingly incongruously named slave Lucky.

The star of the show, Sir Ian Mckellen, best known for his memorable performances in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and countless performances in Shakespearian theatre, acts in the performance as the simpleton Estragon. Mckellen acts Estragon very powerfully and brought ingenuity to the piece by means of performing throughout barefoot with his shoes sitting isolated near the audience. Many reviews praised Mckellen’s work, with one review saying, “Mckellen is superb. He performs Estragon with a maudlin quiver in his voice and a note of comically pathetic vulnerability.”

Performing alongside Sir Ian is Roger Rees; an actor famous for his eminence in Shakespeare and although he is new to Beckettian theatre his enthusiasm and quality in Shakespeare and other forms of theatre matched with the class and experience brought in by Sir Ian Mckellen should add bite to their banter in their assigned roles as Vladimir and Estragon. The other two performers in the cast are Ronald Pickup and Matthew Kelly who act Pozzo and Lucky which creates a cast list brimming with quality to the finest degree.

The play is showing at the Haymarket in London and thanks to the complexity of the play and the charismatic characters it should attract to both the young and the old. However it is only on for a limited time with the final performance approaching on 4th April; I will be buying my ticket and I advise you to buy yours too because, rest assured, it’s worth waiting for Godot.