Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Wilbury Theatre Group opens their ninth season with Samuel Beckett’s existential play “Waiting for Godot.” It first appeared on Broadway in April, 1956. It is about two tramps, Estragon and Vladimir and stars Richard Donelly as Gogo and Tom Gleadow as Didi. They sit waiting on a barren road for Godot. While they wait they run into three people as the two of them have long discussions with each other. They quarrel, make up, contemplate suicide, eat a carrot and gnaw on some chicken bones. One of the men that they meet is Pozzo. He is going to the market to sell his slave, Lucky. He converses with the two men while Lucky entertains them by dancing and thinking. Director Fred Sullivan masterfully takes us on this comic but informative journey about the meaning of life and how we explore it, awaiting the outcome and hoping for something or someone who gives us this positive energy. Are we waiting for a lover, for God or the path our life will take? Beckett lets the audience members decide what they think the meaning of this play is, leaving it up to them to solve the pathway of their lives.
Fred makes his debut as a director here but is no stranger to directing, having directed many shows at Gamm Theatre, Trinity Rep, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company to name a few. Tom and Richard both return to the Wilbury Theatre Group and play their roles brilliantly, never leaving the stage. Both of the characters represent mankind with Tom’s character as more comic and jovial as he urges his compatriot to patiently wait for Godot. Richard’s character is more irascible and likes to pilfer things from Pozzo when he pays them a visit. Like the two characters we are all searching for happiness and meaning of life. Both of them deliver two tour de force performances with these complex characters. The show represents that a man should act with his reason instead of his feelings to discover the reason for his existence.
When the flamboyant Pozzo played with great expertise and gusto by Brandon Whitehead comes barreling on the scene, the show comes to life with his mistreatment of his slave in a bizarre and hilarious manner. He commands the stage while bullying the slave as well as Didi and Gogo. A word of praise to Zachary Gibb who plays Lucky on his nonsensical monologue that he delivers perfectly. One wonders how he managed to memorize these unconnected words and phrases he utters. The dance he does is very comical and brings the house down with laughter. A sort of salute to man’s inhumanity to man. The last member of the cast a little boy is played by two talented little girls Paige Barlow and Hayley Pezza. The boy delivers messages to Gogo and Didi at the end of each act. Once again Fred Sullivan delivers a play to make the audience enjoy and think thoughtfully about this dichotomy of despair and happiness. He elicits the best out of his cast which wins them a resounding standing ovation at a job very well done. So be sure to catch “Waiting for Godot” to witness superb acting and direction before time runs out. Luke Sutherland’s set design of this desolate place is perfect.
WAITING FOR GODOT ( 26 September to 20 October)
Wilbury Theatre Group, 40 Sonoma Court, Providence, RI
1(401)400-7100 or www.thewilburygroup.org
