Samuel Beckett’s Endgame

by Mark S. Byron (Editor)

This collection of essays - the first volume in the Dialogue series - brings together now and experienced scholars to present innovative critical approaches to Samuel Beckett's play Endgame. These essays broach a broad range of topics, many of which are inherently controversial and have generated significant levels of debate in the past. Critical readings of the play in relation to music, metaphysics, intertextuality, and time are counterpointed by essays that consider the nature of performance, the history of the theater and the music hall, Beckett's attitudes to directing his play, and his responses to other directors. This collection will be of special interest to Beckett scholars, to students of literature and drama, and to drama theorists and practitioners.

Genres: Plays

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2007

Reviews

[Skylar Domingos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beckett, Brecht, [insert third theatre absurdist that I’m forgetting], theatre of the absurd is always an acquired taste. And even then, it doesn’t always taste too good.

You can understand why all the ingredients that go into a dish make sense- how they all mean something- but that doesn’t mean that you’ll actually like eating it. Same goes here.

This play, while rich in theme and symbolism, can be at times a terribly confusing read. Theatre like this is meant to be seen, not read. There is a filmed production with Micheal Gambon & David Thewlis on YouTube if anyone is interested, that might help you enjoy and understand this play easier.