Director Rosalie Grant and Evening Star Productions bring theatre of the absurd to Sol Theatre with Samuel Beckett’s remarkable work, Waiting for Godot.
The set was sparse and a beautiful sort of bleak, much mirroring the play itself. The play has only five characters, two of whom perform the titular task of waiting for Godot.
Vladimir, played by Lito Becerra, and Estragon, played by Seth Trucks meet at an undisclosed location near a tree to wait. While they wait, their long relationship unfolds for the audience. Their clothes are tattered and Estragon’s feet suffer from his shoddy boots. Vladimir has health problems tied to his kidneys. Both actors do a tremendous job of selling their maladies. In fact, the physicality of the actors is what sets this play apart from the many performances of it which have come before. The masterful feats of athleticism between them inject comedy into the grim dialogue. The chemistry between Becerra and Trucks is beautiful; Becerra is endearing in Vladimir’s nurturing of his friend and Trucks brings a pathos to Estragon’s dark moods. Their timing as they bounce lines off of each other is impeccable.
The strange duo who come to break up the monotony for Vladimir and Estragon are a mismatched pair. Skye Whitcomb is delightfully despicable as Pozzo, whose fine attire sets him apart from the others. In his company is his slave, Lucky, played by Christopher Mitchell. Again, the nuances of the physical acting of this pair turns what could be a dry play into an engaging performance. Grant must be lauded for her directorial choice and Mitchell must be commended for his endurance.
While some of the bizarre dialogue penned by Beckett is humorous, this cast adds to the humor with their actions and reactions. It is also necessary to mention the way the four of these men portray so much with silence. Some of the most humorous or poignant moments are accomplished with the absence of speech or action. The very stillness evokes the audience reaction. This production is an excellent take on a complex text.
Waiting For Godot runs at Sol Theatre from April 20, 2017 – May 7, 2017.
Tickets are $30 / $20 for students and seniors and are available for the following remaining performances:
Thursday, May 4 @ 8pm
Friday, May 5 @ 8pm
Saturday, May 6 @ 8pm
Sunday, May 7 @ 2pm
All performances are at Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Sol Theatre is a 501(c)(3) corporation that relies on generous donors to continue to carry out its mission of bringing affordable, quality theatre to South Florida and to making theatre accessible and exciting to young people and youth actors.
Photo by Murphy Hayes
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