WAITING FOR GODOT 2025 Reviews

The Wrap

‘Waiting for Godot’ Broadway Review: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s Half-Excellent Adventure With Samuel Beckett

Reeves disappears but Winter delivers in Jamie Lloyd’s flashing production of the absurdist classic

https://www.thewrap.com/waiting-for-godot-broadway-review-keanu-reeves-alex-winters-samuel-beckett

"Jamie Lloyd attempts to make up for the lack of a dynamism between the two leads by overusing the tunnel set to decreasing comic effect. Over and over again, he sends Reeves and Winter, as well as Dirden, running up the sides of the tunnel only to slide back down. Never have I felt so sorry for hamsters."

EDSOSLO858 said: "8 PM embargo lift per Feldman"

Now Adam Feldman is saying his review will drop at 9pm

NYP: 2 stars

‘Waiting for Godot’ review: ‘Rough’ Keanu Reeves struggles in mediocre production of stage classic

https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/entertainment/waiting-for-godot-review-rough-keanu-reeves-struggles-in-mediocre-production-of-stage-classic

"Reeves, on the other hand, is rough. He doesn’t imbue any of Gogo’s lines with meaning — only speed and breathiness. They’re just memorized words that are read with the investment of stating one’s Social Security Number. The actor relies on a vacant stare that’s money when he’s playing an assassin on the big screen. Not so much in live theater."

NY Stage Review

Waiting for Godot: Beckett’s Tramps, Partying On

By Frank Scheck

★★★☆☆ Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter star in Jamie Lloyd's production of Samuel Beckett's masterpiece



Waiting for Godot: Didi & Gogo’s Not-So-Excellent Adventure

By Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ Keanu Reeves, in his Broadway bow, and Alex Winter reunite in Jamie Lloyd's latest, a predictably flashy take on the Beckett classic

B- from Entertainment Weekly

Waiting For Godot review: Friendship comes to the rescue as Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter reunite in limbo

The longtime friends put their chemistry to good use in the latest revival of Samuel Beckett's tragicomedy.

https://ew.com/waiting-for-godot-review-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-reunite-11818466

Hollywood Reporter

‘Waiting for Godot’ Theater Review: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter’s Beckett Spin Nails the Absurdist Tragicomedy but Underserves the Angst

Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the latest Broadway revival of the 1952 play that marries bleak existentialism with broken-down vaudeville also features Brandon J. Dirden and Michael Patrick Thornton.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/waiting-for-godot-broadway-review-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-1236387450

"Lloyd’s production isn’t an embarrassing misfire but it’s underwhelming. This is a work in which the slapstick clowning and the tricky verbal non sequiturs should be merely the surface for roiling undercurrents of anguish, futility, despair and fear.

Reeves and to a lesser degree Winter mostly favor the frustrating ennui. Sure, there’s melancholy and humiliating loss of dignity beneath their circuitous conversation, which appears to have been going on since as far back as their memories extend, or farther. But Beckett’s masterwork should make us laugh while mercilessly prodding our own sense of hopelessness. That makes it both timely and timeless."

Holdren in Vulture says the production fails the material due to Lloyd's choices, but praises Brandon J. Dirden

Together Again at Last! Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in Godot

Jamie Lloyd’s production reaches for a whoa.

https://www.vulture.com/article/godot-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-jamie-lloyd-beckett.html

"Neither Winter nor Reeves is doing weak work, but a gray wash has been painted over them. Line to line, they only intermittently find deep connection or vibrant color in the text. Mostly, they dependably speak it clearly and on pace (even, to my ear, a little too fast). But places that earn chuckles could be getting gasps and guffaws; moments that feel generally meditative could be devastating, if Lloyd were more interested in character work and less in mise en scène."

Deadline

‘Waiting For Godot’ Broadway Review: Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter’s Existential Adventure

https://deadline.com/2025/09/waiting-for-godot-broadway-review-keanu-reeves-1236556987

"As for the acting, there’s little doubt that Winter is the most natural (and more experienced) stage actor of the two, more versatile and, when necessary, capable to drawing real pathos from this grim, gorgeous work of art. You believe his every changing mood. Reeves, as they say, is Reeves, an exceedingly charming actor who projects more than he acts but always seems to have full control of an audiences’ attention (and affection). Yes, even when he seems to be trying too hard to be stentorian or angry or carrying out a bit of slapstick tantrum, he has us rooting for him.

And why not? He and Winter are limning their decades-old friendship, good times and bad, and melding it with one of the greatest 20th Century modern drama duos ever created. It’s their Godot, and damned if it doesn’t work."

Theatrely

A Rather Excellent WAITING FOR GODOT — Review

https://www.theatrely.com/post/a-rather-excellent-waiting-for-godot-review

"Their finely tuned performances are unshowy and completely in service of the production. They’re neither vaudevillians clowning for our enjoyment nor thespians hamming up each ponderous line. Reeves and Winters’ work is quiet and grounded entirely in their genuine chemistry. When they share a quick hug at the top of Act 2, after a whole day of waiting has come and gone fruitlessly, it reveals a profound knowledge that they can find comfort in each other."

DTLI Consensus: Pity on, dudes — Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter provide the existential dread in Jamie Lloyd’s latest hit-and-miss revival.

12 mixed (including the NYT), 7 positive.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/waiting-for-godot/

EDSOSLO858 said: "Yep, this sounds about right based on early word of mouth. They're all coming for Keanu though, so Lloyd and ATG are laughing all the way to the bank.

Sounds like something perhaps worth checking out via rush, lottery, or comp (if you're lucky enough)."

Exactly this. The rush price I paid was worth it, but I'm certainly glad I didn't pay more than $50.

EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:Pity on, dudes — Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter provide the existential dread in Jamie Lloyd’s latest hit-and-miss revival.

12 mixed (including the NYT), 7 positive.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/waiting-for-godot/

"

Holdren’s Vulture review is a pan of Lloyd’s direction, an evisceration. The only thing “mixed” about it is the way it nearly completely ignores reviewing the two stars.