It is a predictable token of the fringe that well known, iconic plays will be adapted, twisted, or parodied into something similar. A production with an inspirational benchmark. An easy tactic to lure in the crowds.
This was such a show, Waitin 4 Gaia, the new Waiting for Godot. An exciting sell.
Unfortunately, it did not live up to the excitement promised. The premise was two fools, or what seemed to be party hosts in princess costumes, sat on a bench sharing a bottle of Lambrini. The notable Gaia was their boss whose arrival they weren’t waiting for, but her inevitable notice of their dismissal.
The reason for the possible dismissal of one of the women was touched upon as a retaliation to an experience of sexual harassment, but this was then left and not mentioned again. This decision felt wasteful of what could have been an interesting modern segway into the necessity of the female voice in place of the famous male-written play.
Instead, one girl threatens to jump into the canal due to a breakup and is prevented by the distraction of a so-called jester who arrives on stage to conduct a song and a dance. What could have been an intelligent insight into the female psyche became juvenile breakup drama and a playground game of merry-go-round.
While the concept was exciting and the three actors produced an engaging show, Waitin 4 Gaia did not display the provocative modern take on a well known play that it had the scope to.
Image provided by LS6 Theatre press release