Two of Scotland’s great stage actors - Brian Cox and Bill Paterson - star as Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett’s masterly black comedy.
On a bare country road, by a single tree, two down-and-out friends meet at dusk to await the arrival of the mysterious Mr. Godot. As they wait, they pass the time laughing at who they are, arguing over what little they have and speculating on the meaning of life. Their predicament would be absurd were it not so familiar.
In the 60 years since its first UK performance, Waiting for Godot has proved itself one of modern theatre’s great masterpieces. Deadly serious yet seriously funny, this elusive play continues to provide delightfully entertaining food for thought.
Mark Thomson’s anniversary production offers a unique, austere, yet immensely rich insight into what may be the greatest play of the last century; and gives absolute primacy to two great creative actors, not young, but - enthrallingly and obviously - still in their prime.
As Samuel Beckett’s pair of dusty gents, Brian Cox and Bill Paterson bounce off each other with gleeful animation in a full-blooded ensemble production.
Beckett's theatrical in-jokes remain intact, but are never over-egged. Instead, a far more moving portrait of broken humanity emerges than some of the more obviously music hall indebted approaches which the play is sometimes loaded with.
Poetry, a deep humanity and a profound understanding of the power of the theatre shine through in the Lyceum’s exemplary Waiting For Godot.
Every resonance is thoroughly explored, but none need be mentioned, such is the level of mastery here.
Beckett's masterpiece is still as thought-provoking, controversial and brilliant as ever.
Beckett’s bleak humour shines through in this smart, accomplished and occasionally stirring production.
At this time, and in this context, it’s difficult to imagine how it could have been better done.
All the necessary ingredients are fully in place to make what is already a very fine production into a truly unmissable one.
As an opener to the Royal Lyceum’s fiftieth anniversary season, Waiting For Godot is not only a suitably starry treat, but a first-rate example of what the theatre does best: staging unmissable top-quality performances in the very heart of Edinburgh.
While Thomson’s production is alive to the musicality of the writing, the set pieces are never over-egged.
This major anniversary for the Lyceum company demanded a major Godot. This splendid production ensures that it has one.
Waiting for Godot opens the Lyceum's 2015/16 season
Brian Cox and Bill Patterson on Waiting for Godot
Brian Cox and Bill Paterson--Waiting For Godot
The Waiting is over: Brian Cox and Bill Paterson on finally sharing a stage
Brian Cox and Bill Paterson talk Waiting for Godot, the strength of Scottish theatre and Cinderella
Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh from Friday September 18, 2015, until Saturday October 10, 2015. More info: www.lyceum.org.uk
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