Depicting the essence of the human condition is not a simple task, but Samuel Beckett did just that in a perfect, yet disturbing way when he wrote the play, "Waiting for Godot."
In celebration of the play's 50th anniversary, Albuquerque's Tricklock Company is performing the play with four of the company's finest comedic actors.
The plot synopsis is an easy one to follow - Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Mr. Godot. And waiting and waiting and waiting.
In the mean time, the two are like the Three Stooges, only they don't need a third because they are so hilarious together.
Joe Pesce, Tricklock's artistic director, plays Estragon and John LaFree is Vladimir. These two were born to play these physically challenging parts.
Physical acting has to be the hardest type to pull off because not only does the actor have to feed the audience their lines believably, but they have to also make the audience relate to the over exaggerated movements.
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Pesce and LaFree are amazing in this respect. The clowning around, the slapstick and the delivery of their lines were astounding.
Samuel Beckett though, gives a lot to work with - over three hours worth of lines. The existentialistic qualities in the writing are evident.
These two men are capable of leaving and forgetting about Godot, but they don't. This clearly presented the concept of the individual's freedom of choice in contrast to the belief that a God controls humans.
But sitting through a three-hour play with a mundane repetition of dialogue and actions was harder to understand. Beckett seems as if he was trying to say that the human condition is one of waiting and boredom. Vladimir was bored, Estragon was bored, and at points the audience was bored, but it was all in the name of ultimately good theater.
And if Beckett was trying to convey that message, then LaFree and Pesce were the perfect men to do it. Their repetitious movements were not only physical, but also strangely eloquent.
The subtleties of their actions added a lot to ponder later. Vladimir searches inside his empty hat for something he never finds and Estragon enters the play beaten without ever knowing who the assailant was.
William Sterchi who stars as Pozzo, a passerby who entertains the two while waiting for Godot, also continues this notion. One day the man is fine, the next he is blind not knowing what happened to his sight.
If you have three hours, this is the play to use them on. The acting, as usual at Tricklock, is superb and the message will keep you pondering for days.
Right now, you don't have to wait for Godot - the play runs through May 18 at the Tricklock Performance Space at 112 Washington. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and senior citizens and $10 for general admission. For more information call 254-8393.
