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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 22, No. 10. September 14, 1959
Nobody Comes
Nobody Comes
"Endgame", by one of this century's most controversial playwrights, the author of "Waiting for Godot", Samuel Beckett, was presented by a cast from the Victoria University of Wellington, under Producer Bob Kerr.
Endgame is a most unusual play. It has no plot, and is set in a room bricked in on every side. The principal character is blind and cannot move from his wheelchair. He keeps his parents in rubbish bins, and is looked after by his son, the only mobile member of the cast.
Endgame is horrifying theatre, but interest is maintained by clever use of comic and sentimental dialogue.
Beckett writes plays of the spirit, of "man's inhumanity to man," and in Endgame he depicts the end of the world. Although life for Beckett is disillusionment, the play does not end without a ray of hope.
Michael Hattaway gave a good inter-preation of Clov, showing depth and sincerity in his acting. John Trotter as Hamm, the blind central figure of the play, gave an excellent performance, displaying good verbal dexterity within his lines.
The adjudicator criticised the production on two points, the use of continuous background music, impinging on the action of the play, and the obscure lighting used. He thought that the production was incomplete and not concise, but all credit is due to Victoria for their ambitious choice of play.