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PATRICK STEWART
At the Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne
in
Waiting for Godot
21 April 2009
Waiting for Godot rolled into Newcastle upon Tyne for one week only (20 – 26 April 2009) for the last leg of its regional UK tour before transferring to London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket on 30 April for a 12 week run.
Waiting for Godot, written by Samuel Beckett some 50 years ago, follows the lives of two tramps, Estragon (Sir Ian McKellen) and Vladimir (Patrick Stewart) for 48 hours as they wait for the elusive “Godot”.
I have one word which sum up Waiting for Godot for me – Fabulous. The play was engaging, dynamic, entertaining, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.
Patrick, right, gives an excellent performance as Vladimir. A distinctly different character to Estragon; more confident, knowledgeable, able to support both himself and Estragon through the difficult times.
I hadn’t realised how funny the play was going to be; not just the chemistry between the characters but the verbal sparring and comedic routines had the audience in stitches; the bowler hat routine, Estragon’s feet and boot problems. Patrick shows off his deep luxurious voice with two short bursts of song and parades the stage with vigour and youthfulness.
Sir Ian, left, leads the cast and steals the show. His Lancashire accent adding depth to weary Estragon; heavily dependant on Vladimir to get him through the night, Sir Ian plays the character well, the slightest of mannerisms, holding onto Vladimir’s cuff for comfort when strangers Pozzo and Lucky arrive creates an understated character you easily come to love.
Simon Callow, left, was his usual excellent self, playing the over-the-top eccentric Englishman. Ronald Pickup, right, didn’t need many words to display his fine acting credentials as the quiet manservant Lucky.
In the end it didn’t really matter that nothing much happened in this play. Godot doesn’t show up, you don’t really know if he was real or not, but what you do know is that two of English theatre’s greats turn a play about nothing in to a play that is really something.
Images courtesy www.waitingforgodottheplay.com
