The Gainesville Theatre Alliance’s Discovery Series presented its first production for 2018-19, Waiting for Godot, Nov. 9-12, 7:30 p.m., at the Ed Cabell Theatre at the University of North Georgia Campus.
Samuel Beckett’s famous play relates the story of Vladimir and Estragon, characterized as “tramps,” two men waiting for help from a man named Godot, all the while pondering the rules and expectations of their world and their place in it. Beckett’s existential classic, begins with two men on a barren road by a leafless tree.
We soon see the world they inhabit operates with its own set of rules—where nothing happens and nothing is certain. “Nothing to be done” is one of the many phrases that is repeated throughout the play, which is somewhat of a language poem, as our jovial friends grapple with meaning in the modern world.
The lead roles are held by two Brenau women. Celine Mansour plays the role of Didi and Madeline Brashier plays the role of Gogo. Mansour describes playing the male roles as women “uncommon” but leaves interpretation up to the audience.
“The most interesting or unique thing about Godot is the mere simplicity,” said Mansour. “It’s such simple human interaction, although bizarre, but it is put in such a way as to make the audience wet their seats.”
Brashier refers to the play as “acting at its roots” and also used the term “simplistic” when describing the play. Although the roles are characterized as men, she says the audience can all find some connection in life when it comes to the “struggle of not knowing or the boredom of waiting,” regardless if you don’t have a certain anatomy.
The play is directed by Zechariah Pierce and is described as a director who “sees such wonderful opportunity in unlikely places.”
For more information, visit www.gainesvilleTHEATREalliance.org, and questions can be directed to the Box Office with questions at 678.717.3624, Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
