Waiting for Godot

The first thing to say about this production is that it is not the full play. It has been cut by about 40 minutes and the repetitious interplay in Act 1 between Vladimir and Estragon has been cut as have the sections that deal with bodily functions and male organs.

Nevertheless it has good elements, in the actors in particular. Physically Meredith is, or was, too short for his role, but never mind. Mostel over does it a bit, but that was Mostel.

The direction is a little irksome and not ideal for Beckett on stage which really wants for a full frame stage, not the TV close up and not the moving camera but those parts of film grammar are normal and the so-called stage-bound qualities may bore viewers.

Lucky's monologue is very athletic and the most important speech in the play given by Pozzo, "When, When, When, why do you poison me with this story of time?" is over all too quickly.

Over 50 years later we can see the whole play and uncensored, so we can look at this version as staging post on the wider introduction to Beckett.

This must be amazing. Burgess Meredith and Zero Mostel playing Vladimir and Estragon... I can only imagine how good this is.

My brother saw this play off-Broadway with Christopher Lloyd and Tony Shaloub in the main roles, which I really would like to have seen.

This play is truly the best of Samuel Beckett's works, with the possible exception of Krapp's last tape.

There is also a film of Beckett's called, "Film" starring Buster Keaton, which must be astounding.

I wonder if there is a way to find these lost gems?

Does it make a difference is Beckett is done on screen versus on stage?

Why must this comment be ten lines long?

It seems rather pointless and fascist, but only in the way that I interpret it.

Can anything be done?

She has gone and done it again.

Won't somebody tell her?

This shocking play received its perfect interpretation in this televised version. Starring Burgess Meredith as a scheming Didi, Zero Mostel as a flustered Gogo, Kurt Kasznar as pompous Pozzo, and Alvin Epstein as his beleaguered servant, no better production is conceivable for this "tragicomedy," which revolutionized modern theatre and was much responsible for Samuel Beckett's Nobel Prize. In the intimate circle of fellow Irish author James Joyce in Paris, Beckett joined the Resistance and, when he learned that he was soon to be arrested by the Gestapo, he and his wife, Suzanne, fled in a long walk towards Vichy France. This play catalogued their immiseration and the search in farmer's fields for some sort of root vegetable on which they might dine. The Irish Potato Famine of the previous century may have also contributed to a sort of ethnic memory of extreme deprivation, which Beckett ably addresses with mocking humor. All writing is autobiographical and the ability to delineate its universal elements is testimony to Beckett's genius. This production does it due service.

IMHO this is closest rendition to what was intended. mind blowing in all possible ways. 6 years of writing was worth it, and then some as he was perfecting director input when it was already playing in theaters. most will not understand that this tragic comedy. it is an extremely detailed satire of society and humans. it jumps around as 4 hours of it will melt your brain for sure. i had to make break even for 90 min ver

Zero Mostel and Burgess Meredith deliver two of the finest acting jobs I have ever seen as Estregon and Vladimir, two lonely souls passing time while waiting for an important, albeit unknown, visitor. These veteran actors apply their craft with such a powerful and professional finesse that it makes this version of Becket's masterpiece a delightful lesson for the serious practitioner of the dramatic arts.

Make no mistake, this is not a MOVIE but the original Becket play filmed for television yet remaining true to Becket's vision. This version contains no special effects and little in sets save what Becket describes for his original dramatic work. What makes this version come alive, besides the glorious script itself, are the wonderful performances of these two great actors.