Can anyone explain this to me?

[KarenB]

OK....last night I went to our local university to see the production of "Waiting for Godot." As intelligent as I am TRYING to be, I just didn't get it

Well, I don't think I got it. Is it something to do with waiting for death, possibly in a Concentration camp, with no identity???? Or was it just having no life what so ever and wondering if life should even go on? But then who is Puzzo and Lucky? Nad who is Godot?

Any takers on giving a jab at an explaination?
Karen


BTW....the students at this university did, and always do, a fantastic job! DH and I enjoy supporting them!

 

[nativetxn]

Samuel Becket must have been a really interesting person. This was a strange play for me. Existentialism isn't my favorite genre, that's probably why.

How about this explanation, I found on the net:

Waiting for Godot is primarily about hope. The play revolves around Vladimir and Estragon and their pitiful wait for hope to arrive. At various times during the play, hope is constructed as a form of salvation, in the personages of Pozzo and Lucky, or even as death. The subject of the play quickly becomes an example of how to pass the time in a situation which offers no hope.

Read the rest of this particular analysis <b>HERE</b>

I thought it was pretty depressing when I read it, but then I listened to the version with Burt Lahr and it was more interesting.

 

[Kermit]

I saw it once long ago in college, but I've never read it. The version I saw was fairly interesting. They decided to do it <i>Gilligan's Island</i> style. The people who were waiting (is that Puzzo and Lucky?) were wearing red and white striped shirts, like Gilligan. There were palm trees and other island props on the stage. I got the impression that the play has very little in the way of prop and background suggestions, so you can do it however you want.

Godot is a God-like figure. From what I remember, the other 2 characters seem to think that he'll solve all their problems. Unfortunately, he never shows up. I don't think Becket was very devout in any religion.

To me, it seems like one of the central themes of the play is that it's about the progression of time, yet time stands still. Time is obviously moving, but nothing ever changes. I think Becket wanted the audience to feel at least some of the boredom, and it works. It's an interesting play, but most people are happy when it's over.

 

[WillyJ]

Hmmmm.. I was thought it was about the bus service from the Wilderness Lodge???

 

[KarenB]

aahhhhh Willy....now it is all making sense to me!

 

[Cindy B]

I saw a funny send up of this play on an old Saturday Night Live skit on Comedy Central..

They called it Waiting for Pardo (as in announcer Don Pardo)
The skit starred Kris Kristofferson, and Chevy Chase (I think this was 1974/75)

It was pretty funny, Chase and Kristofferson were sitting on a chair just talking saying they are waiting for Pardo.. Don Pardo would say something like You are waiting for me... and then they would do something funny...

Call me strange but when I think of waiting for Gadot I think of Waiting for Pardo.