There's talk of the recent BAM production of Beckett's Endgame following in the footsteps of Patrick Stewart's Scottish King. If this talk is true, this would be some coup. How long has it been since we've seen Beckett on a Broadway stage?
I'm not sure we ever have. Have we? Maybe Waiting for Godot but I mean, when Alvin Epstein originated the role of Clov in the New York premiere of the play in 1957 the play was staged... where? The Biltmore? The Helen Hayes? The Shubert?
Wrong!
Try the Cherry Lane. Yup, the Cherry Lane. So the word coup is somewhat apt, I'd say.
But, boy, if ever there were a production of this play that deserves a Broadway run, it is this one! The quartet -- Mr. Epstein, Max Casella, John Turturro and Elaine Stritch -- create such a tightly woven fabric, it's just a wonder to behold. And I've seen Mr. Epstein in at least two other productions of this play. This time, in spite of whatever rehearsal shenanigans Ms. Stritch may have pulled out of her ass (Oh come now, we all know her reputation!), Andre Belgrader has beautifully steered this ship. The production is funny, bouyant and chillingly sad and moves effortlessly here and there all the while pulling us along in its wake.
If the play does make the move, I say run, run, run!
