The KOAN Unitkicks off the new year with Beckett5, a quintet of darkly humorous, seldom-seen short plays by Samuel Beckett opening January 21 at the Odyssey Theatre.
Norbert Weisser (Taking Sides on Broadway, The Arsonists and Times Like These at the Odyssey) takes on the title role in the evening's centerpiece, Krapp's Last Tape. Elderly and ailing, Krapp sits at his desk and prepares to listen to audiotape diaries he made thirty years earlier. Beckett's theatrical poem, one of his most personal works, is infused with his history, emotion and an abiding sense of irony as he captures the weight of regret for missed opportunity and lost love. KOAN Unit ensemble membersAlan Abelew, Diana Cignoni,Sheelagh Cullen and Beth Hoganstar in the evening's other four plays, each a splendid example of Beckett's mastery of minimalist structure. Considered by critics to be one of the playwright's most "perfect" plays (Beckett agonized over each individual line until they exactly matched his creative vision), Come and Go is described as a "dramaticule" on its title page and contains only 121 words.
Alan Abelew Photo by Enci Box
Diana Cignoni and Sheelagh Cullen Photo by Enci Box
Beth Hogan, Diana Cignoni and Sheelagh Cullen Photo by Enci Box
Beth Hogan, Diana Cignoni and Sheelagh Cullen Photo by Enci Box
Alan Abelew Photo by Ron Sossi
Alan Abelew Photo by Ron Sossi
Beth Hogan Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser and Alan Abelew Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser and Alan Abelew Photo by Ron Sossi
Diana Cignoni Photo by Ron Sossi
Diana Cignoni Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser Photo by Ron Sossi
Norbert Weisser Photo by Ron Sossi
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