Scan barcode
marc129's review against another edition
3.0
Classical play about the absurdity of life, the skittishness of existence, the inhumanity of man, the impossibility of communication, etc. Read a first time in English, at 17 years and loved it! My second reading 20 years later was a bit more disappointing: it still is poignant, but the novelty has gone.
marc129's review against another edition
3.0
Classic play about the absurdity of life, the leanness of existence, the inhumanity of man, the impossibility of communication, etc. Classy!
fbreen27's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
glenncolerussell's review against another edition
5.0
WAITING FOR GODOT IN ANTARCTICA
An audience gathers to preview a screening of a new version of this Samuel Beckett play. The directed striped his rendition down to bare existential black and white by filming in Antarctica and using penguins as actors. The problem of dialogue is solved by the technique of voice-over.
In the first act, two penguins stand on bleak, snow-covered ice. There’s a close up of one penguin. The voice-over says, “Nothing to be done.”
The camera slowly scans to the other penguin who waddles next to the first. His voice-over begins, “I’m beginning to come round to that opinion.”
The play continues in this manner. Occasionally, the two penguins rock back and forth in their stark, empty white world. When in the middle of the second act, a third penguin approaches, the two penguins waddle awkwardly to an icy hill and then toboggan on their stomachs down the hill and into the water.
After a soul-searching monologue, the third penguin also toboggans down the hill into the water. At the end of the play the two original penguins rock back and forth. One penguin says, “Well, shall we go swimming again?
The other penguin replies, “Yes, let’s go.”
But the penguins do not move.
nicemarmot's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
booker2666's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kim_reads87's review against another edition
2.0
I decided to listen to this one instead of reading the physical copy as it’s a play. This book was ok. There are some funny moments but I became bored quite early on. I think if it was any longer than the hour and a half I spent on it, then I probably would have DNF’d it.
idgey's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
ptankha's review against another edition
4.0
Someone said that Waiting for Godot is a play where nothing happens, twice. I think I agree with that characterisation, having realised early on that the plot is the least of Beckett's concerns here. That said, just because nothing happens doesn't mean it's boring - the dialogue is excellent, and I found myself reading the lines as if I were performing both major parts myself. Performed properly, I'm sure this would be a riot to watch.