Theatre Review: Waiting for Godot

09 Aug 2010

Sara Boyce heads to the theatre to see this all-star ‘absurdist’ classic.

Christchurch was treated to a rare presence at the Isaac Theatre Royal last month. It began as Sir Ian McKellen hauled himself out of a ditch, greeting us as an optimistic ever-aging man who resembled an old, wounded stray dog. Roger Rees soon joined his beloved companion – not only to keep his spirits up and lend a shoulder for him to rest on, but to ensure our two leads were forever, loyally and hopefully, waiting for Godot.

Much of the play, steeped in scriptural allusion, seems to deal with the subject of religion. The story of two thieves, discussions of repentance, tales of the damned and saved, the hope of the unknown and the temptation to just give up. Is the solitary tree at centre stage the tree of life? Or is it the cross? We’re kept guessing.

But we were left in no doubt that the X-factor of this play was due to the amazing calibre of the actors, leading it to break box office records in the UK. The audience began to see the characters as real people, feeling genuine empathy for them as they continued to wait – even as we pondered what they were waiting for. Is it for life to really begin, or for death to finally claim them?

A beautiful set, sensitively lit, and perfected with haunting and reverberating sounds. Waiting for Godot will certainly be one of the best I will ever see.

Words: Sara Boyce