Phase Two: New York and WAITING FOR GODOT

I arrived in New York and decided to "rush" down to Times Square and pick up a "rush" ticket. (Bad joke, huh?!) I happened on to WAITING FOR GODOT on a Wednesday afternoon, June 10. Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman and John Glover gave exquisite life and energy to a well worn play by Samuel Beckett. I was smitten with the realization that a full house was listening and enjoying Samuel Beckett's masterpiece, young and old alike. Watching Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin work together was inspiring. Not only were they totally connected to the text, they were totally connected to each other, equally giving and taking, comically and dramatically. They worked the text so that it sounded as if it had been written in 2009. They approached each other physically in the most astounding and varied manners, seeming to keep opposite body rhythms and rarely falling into cliches. Irwin and Lane are both exceptional comics, but both had dramatic turns, many very quick from a comic moment, only to wrench the audience, emotionally and spiritually. The entire production gave me "pause" -- What am I waiting for? Who am I waiting for? What do I do when I am waiting for what I'm waiting for? It was absolutely divine to be in the presence of such experienced actors as Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman and John Glover. I was honored to be a part of this experience. It was amazing that such a play at such a time in our history is so well favored. I believe Samuel Beckett would have been "delighted" with the production.