THEATRE: WAITING FOR GODOT

“They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it’s night once more.” Few literary works have portrayed man’s cosmic absurdity with  as much finesse as Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. Fifty seven years since the first production, the play has lost nothing of its humour, tenderness and ambiguity. New Theatre’s production, directed by Luke Rogers, is an admirable telling of the futile wait for Godot. It is a restrained and intelligent take, balancing the play’s pathos and melancholy with true tenderness, particularly between Didi and Gogo as they converse, sing, dance, swap hats and contemplate suicide as they wait. Alan Faulkner’s restless Vladimir is particularly engaging. Although there are moments when the play falls a little short of the mark, a strong cast, sparse and eerie sets by Gemma Lark-Johnson, and the richness of Beckett’s words themselves make for a highly enjoyable night of the absurd. It’s sure to have you pondering the big questions, like how many Pastizzi Café pastizzis you’ll be able eat after the show.

Until May 29, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $22-28, 1300 306 776, mca-tix.com.au