Posted: 11/6/18 at 12:23am
Sincere question: When Lincoln Center programs international performances, do they actually get on a plane to see it first?
Druid's Waiting For Godot, currently part of the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center, is a mess.
I bought a ticket for this the day they went on sale, as a fan of Garry Hynes, Druid & the play. But, this production made me long for Roundabout's production with John Glover, John Goodman, Bill Irwin & Nathan Lane.
There is no chemistry between the actors and everything is played for as much of a laugh as they can muster. Add to that, looooooong pauses you could drive a truck through and a lot of inane slapstick and you wonder why they bothered. It's as though Garry Hynes told the actors to just memorize their lines and she would be at the beach until opening night.
Case in point, Lucky's long monologue, which John Glover did so well, I still remember it, 10 years later. Tonight, I couldn't understand a word that was said. Anyone can do that.
There's so much silliness, in fact, that it diminishes any sense of foreboding. In fact, there isn't any, save the last 10-15 minutes. The last 10 minutes makes you wish the rest of the piece had been as strong, but it's not enough to make up for it.
The was one of my most anticipated shows of the Fall and I'm really bummed that it disappointed on every level.
