By Samuel Beckett Directed by Season: 22 - 31 January 2009 Waiting for Godot follows two consecutive days in the lives of a pair of men who divert themselves while they wait expectantly and unsuccessfully for someone named Godot to arrive. They claim him an acquaintance but in fact hardly know him, admitting that they would not recognise him were they to see him. To occupy themselves, they eat, sleep, talk, argue, sing, play games, exercise, swap hats, and contemplate suicide — anything "to hold the terrible silence at bay". Waiting...If it were measurable, we might just find that waiting is the nation's single biggest pastime. We all find ourselves waiting for someone or something every day of the year, from buses to helpdesk operators, in supermarket & bank queues everywhere. Almost everywhere you go, you can see people waiting. We've all seen someone who, at the merest hint of some idle time, whips out the knitting needles and the current work-in-progress. Today it is more common to see people playing soduku or simply plugging in headphones to the flavour-of-the-month electronic device and closing off the outside world entirely. In the age of instant gratification, is waiting a lost art? Originally written in French by an Irishman living in Paris, Waiting for Godot takes place in a simpler time – before the advent of cellphones and the internet – but its theme is well known to us all. It was once famously described as "a play in which nothing happens, twice", by Vivian Mercier in the Irish Times (Feb 1956). Elmwood Players is thrilled to be presenting this classic play to round out their 60th year. Waiting for Godot was written around the same time that Elmwood Players started holding play readings and performing short sketches. Director Tom Vavasour is no stranger to the Elmwood stage, having acted and directed for the society many times over the past 17 years. He is looking forward to the challenge of making sense of the play's circularity and absurdities, and of the waiting game we all play. Cast: Estragon, a tramp - Tom Vavasour Vladimir, a tramp - Stan Hood Pozzo, Middle class & pompous - Sam Fisher Lucky, Pozzo's Servant - Neil Hurst Boy, Messenger from Godot - Campbell Wright | Audience Reaction... Hi, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your production of "Waiting for Godot". I was a bit nervous in advance that the play would be inaccessable, but in the event I found it the most enjoyable theatre I have been to - well for some years (and that definitely includes professional productions). I enjoyed it so much that in addition to recommending it to others I am returning myself. In addition to choosing a brilliant play I would like to congratulate the company on all the actors, who were perfect for their parts. best regards... Ed comment: I saw the play last night (Friday) and I agree with this correspondent. Not only were the performances superb but the lighting sound and set were absolutely spot on, you should not miss this theatre event! |