WAITING FOR GODOT

Schlesinger Theatre presents Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot performed by the Michaelhouse Matric drama class and directed by William le Cordeur from February 13 to 15.

Two tramps wait on a desolate road for a man called Godot. They joke and play, and wait for a person who never arrives. Often described as the most influential play of the 20th Century, Waiting for Godot promises to be a wonderfully entertaining, thought-provoking theatrical experience.

“Our context differs slightly from the original,” says le Cordeur. “The desolate road is littered with old technology. The tree blooms with flickering lights, and the moon reflects the waning lights of civilisation. However, our timeless characters of the two homeless men Vladimir (Blake Botha and Hanko von Schlichting) and Estragon (Martin Blades and Byron Grealy), play the clown characters with pace and energy that evoke the humour of this carefully crafted masterpiece. The menacing Pozzo and his slave Lucky (both played by Michael Fenn and Shaheed Roberts), bring to the stage a darker humour that evokes the tension of master and servant. Also making an appearance is the shepherd (Xolani Shezi), who brings messages from the elusive Godot.

“The story and characters offer a highly entertaining portrayal of societal themes that are as relevant, if not more, than they were when the play was first performed over fifty years ago,” le Cordeur adds.

Waiting for Godot has performances nightly at 19h30 from February 13 to 15. Tickets R50 (R35 scholars and pensioners) booked on theatre@michaelhouse.org on 033 234 1314. A complementary tea will be served at interval. This production is made possible through Dalro and Michaelhouse.