I recently saw Waiting for Godot at John Curtin college of teh Arts and it was performed with a cast of 29! The 20 Vladamir/Estragon's, 5 Lucky's and 4 Pozzo's were students and teachers at a school. I am now playing Estragon in an amateur production of Waiting for Godot and as one who has seen the film and the show in several different ways I am curious to hear what people think is better or more effective at portraying Beckett's work.??? . . .
~ Tari
The few movie versions are all (as far as I know) classical interpretations. Live companies are often motivated to do some sort of updated version, or add some kind of twist (like your cast of 29). I'm not against this sort of thing. I've seen Shakespeare done in a dozen different timeframes, including a flapper version of Shrew that I thought was great. The problem arises when the twist adds nothing to the content, and with Godot... what can you really add that's worth adding?
The flip side is that a good live production of Godot essentially involves the audience, even better with an audience that knows at least a little about the play.
So ... I'm no help. I like this version, it was very well done. The places where it lacks are due mostly to it being a film, which I really can't dock it too many points for. I'd prefer to watch it live, but I have to be... ready for it and while the film is set to cue up at a moment's notice the local theater groups refuse to oblige my whims.
I don't think film can ever replace or match the thrill of live theatre, but in having both, you can as someone below much wiser put it, have the piece available whenever you wish to see it.
You can also capture a particular performance, for ever.
I think it would be great if much more theatre was put on television, whats on at the moment is often so awful, that while it may not be as good as seeing the show live, at least it's worthwhile entertainment.
http://uklivetheatreand.fotopages.com/
there is an incredible audio version of this produced by Naxos audio that I just can't recommend enough. Sean Barrett and david Burke got Didi and Gogo down perfectly. I actually prefer it to this film if I am honest.
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