Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot stars actors Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) and Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show,” “This Way Up”) who are patiently waiting for Godot – along with the rest of us.
As Estragon “Gogo” (Mandvi) and Vladimir “Didi” (Wilson) wait and wait for the arrival of the elusive Godot, a cast of mysterious misfits interrupt their endless vigil in Samuel Beckett’s tragi-comic masterpiece that has captivated audiences for decades.
Didi is the philosopher of the two – optimistically enthralled with the prospect of meeting Godot, while Gogo is the pessimist who is always in deep thought and exasperated by the thought of another day waiting for the elusive Godot.
As they wait, Pozzo (Conor Lovett) and his slave Lucky (Adam Stein) meet the two on their way for Pozzo to sell Lucky. With Lucky tied to a rope, his body language screams pain through his silence, however, once he “comes alive” you gather he was once a vibrant soul before becoming the property of Pozzo.
As Didi and Gogo continue to wait it becomes apparent that as the days and years have gone by, Godot is nothing more than a figment of their imagination. Or is he?
“In an instant, all will vanish and we’ll be alone once more in the midst of nothingness.”
Of course Gogo is tired and wants to give up waiting but ever the optimist Didi convinces him to come back another day.
If you are unfamiliar with the work of Beckett you would have no clue as to what is going on because nothing is happening. Perhaps that’s exactly how Beckett wants it. It allows the audience to ponder is this about death, life, politics or a combination of them all? All we know is we’re waiting for Godot and I’m not sure how to feel about it.
The stage is beautiful and simple. It goes from night to day with the only props being a barren tree and a rock symbolizing how all could vanish in the midst of nothingness and with daylight comes a new day along with a few leaves on the tree symbolizing life continues to form.
The acting is excellent which over the course of the 2-hour and 30-minute production keeps the audience engaged, laughing and still as we patiently wait.
Waiting for Godot is directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett and produced in association with Gare St Lazare Ireland who are experts on all things Beckett. Kaye Voyce is the brains behind the costumes and set design and Mel Mercier provides the sound that gives eery vibes as they wait alongside the road.
Waiting for Godot runs through December 21 (extended!) at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave. in Westwood. Performances are Wednesdays through at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets are $49-$159 and can be purchased here.
