"Is New York ready for a Beckett binge? This fall, the city will be flooded with futility, repetition, and existential dread as three classic Samuel Beckett playsWaiting for Godot, Endgame, and Krapp's Last Tapeall arrive at once. On Broadway, director Jamie Lloyd's starry revival of Waiting for Godot, with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter (yes, Bill and Ted reunited), is currently in previews at the Hudson Theatre."
"Reeves and Winter join this tradition of marquee casting designed to make audiences who might never otherwise buy a ticket to Beckett feel at ease. In 1988, Robin Williams and Steve Martin famously tried their hand at Vladimir and Estragon at Lincoln Center. In 2009, Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin paired with John Goodman in a revival that remains one of the rare productions to win over skeptics. Soon after, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen gave their double act to Broadway."
"Beckett's plays are often frustrating: slow, cryptic, and seemingly about nothing. You often leave irritated, wondering if you got it at all. I usually fall into that camp myself. But under the right conditions, the plays can work brilliantly. And those conditions might be right for today. Godot could easily be set in America 2025, where people keep waiting for political renewal, social healing, or some savior who never arrives. It mirrors the endless news cycle and the sense that nothing ever truly changes."
Three classic Samuel Beckett plays—Waiting for Godot, Endgame, and Krapp's Last Tape—will appear in New York theaters this fall. Jamie Lloyd directs Waiting for Godot on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. Stephen Rea will perform Krapp's Last Tape at NYU Skirball. Irish company Druid will present Garry Hynes' Endgame at the Irish Arts Center for the company's 50th anniversary. The only missing full-length play is Happy Days. A tradition of marquee casting aims to attract hesitant audiences. Beckett's work remains slow and cryptic but can resonate by reflecting present-day cycles of waiting and inertia.
Read at www.amny.com
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