Lots of Laughs in Waiting for Godot!

The Long Beach Playhouse is currently presenting their Studio Theatre production of Samual Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. This is probably Beckett’s best known works among his Irish avant-garde plays and poems. It was somewhat surprising to me to see so few people in the audience. Almost as surprising as the myriad of questions I had after reading this play in college. After all, what the heck is this play all about?

In short Waiting for Godot is about waiting, friendship, the human condition & faith. Vladimir (Anthony B. Cohen) and Estragon (Karl Schott) wait in a nondescript desert-like setting characterized only by the presence a lonely bare tree and large rocks. Andrew Vonderschmitt’s stylized set design is reminiscent of a Salvador Dali painting and provides a perfect setting for the surreal nature of the play.

The two men are waiting for a character named Godot. To pass the time, Vladimir and Estragon create various trivial activities talking, eating, and arguing through their day. They constantly tease each other and when the boredom becomes overwhelming, they contemplate suicide. However, the most entertaining part of the play is when Vladimir and Estragon receive a bizarre visit from what appears to be slave owner Pozzo (Steven Biggs) and his servant Lucky (Kyle Bryan Hall).

Surprisingly, considering Beckett is the source of this madness, there is never a dull moment in this production. It is as funny as it is thought provoking. All the actors involved give energized full-throttle performances, including Kyle Bryan Hall who doesn’t speak for what seems like an eternity, but communicates his character with gesture and facial expression, until the moment when he is asked to “think” and cannot be persuaded to shut-up.

There are a million ways to interpret this play (none of which are right or wrong) and LBPH does an excellent job letting the play speak for itself. This is a must see production for any theatre artist, student and theatre admirer. Waiting for Godot is a classic piece that does not come around nearly as often as it should. So please support Southern California theatre and purchase a ticket today. You will not be disappointed and you will be talking about the play with friends for hours upon hours.

Waiting for Godot at the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre through May 7. General admission tickets are $22; $20 for seniors. Student tickets are $12 with valid student ID. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. at 5021 E. Anaheim St. Call (562) 494-1014 for reservations and information. Tickets are also available online at http://www.lbplayhouse.org/.