I was sad to learn this week that the Seattle Rep had cancelled the upcoming production of Bill Irwin in Waiting for Godot. The show was to be directed by legendary Irishwoman Gerry Hynes (of whose Broadway version of Beauty Queen of Lenane was so riveting--and one of the first Broadway shows I had seen after recently moving to NYC).
Instead they are doing The Road to Mecca.
No offense to Mr. Fugard, but...really?!
But my disappointed feelings were rejunevated when Playbill.com announced that Mr. Irwin was going to get his chance to do Beckett's most infamous play, after all...on Broadway. And with a co-star none other than Nathan Lane.
I must say I have slightly mixed feelings about that...In the article they even compared Lane to a modern-day Bert Lahr, who played Estragon in the original production on Broadway fifty years ago.
(As if you don't know this, but Bert Lahr was also the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.)
Bert Lahr hated the play, hated Beckett, and I think the feeling was mutual.
Of course, this was fifty years ago, before anyone knew who Beckett really was or what his play was all about. People weren't used to this post-modern comedy, this laughing and crying at the same time thing. Let's hope Nathan Lane approaches the role slightly different.
It could be quite interesting. And Anthony Page is a good director.
And plus, it's Beckett on Broadway.
Evidently, that's something you see only twice in a century.
Hope I can get out to NY next year to see it.
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