{"id":169,"date":"2014-04-30T09:40:55","date_gmt":"2014-04-30T09:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.reading.ac.uk\/staging-beckett\/?p=169"},"modified":"2014-04-30T09:40:55","modified_gmt":"2014-04-30T09:40:55","slug":"from-the-archives-peter-otoole-in-waiting-for-godot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/staging-beckett\/from-the-archives-peter-otoole-in-waiting-for-godot\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Archives: Peter O\u2019Toole in Waiting for Godot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Born in 1932 in Connemara (or so he claimed), O\u2019Toole passed away in December 2013 at the age of 81. Much has been written about his career of late: he was as notorious for his drinking as much as for his career decisions \u2013 his choice, for instance, to take parts in less than top quality films at the point in his career when he was gaining respect for his Shakespearian roles on the stage. This actor lived a life marked by a refusal to accept the mainstream, a reputation for being difficult and demanding, and for enjoying the odd tipple.<\/p>\n

Later claiming Waiting for Godot<\/i> to be his favourite play, it was during the early days of his career that O\u2019Toole played Vladimir (Bristol Old Vic, 1957). Patrick Stewart, who has recently played the part to international acclaim, speaks of O\u2019Toole\u2019s performance as inspirational for him as a then budding drama student.[1]<\/a> O\u2019Toole played the role again at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 1969 \u2013 the first time the play was performed at this theatre. The story which was doing the rounds prior to this production was how O\u2019Toole had been turned down by the Abbey company in the early days of his career due to the fact that he didn\u2019t have enough Irish. Though, as Desmond Rushe of the Irish Independent<\/i> wrote, when asked about this, Ernest Blythe denied this ever happened.[2]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> It is unclear from the news record whether or not the story is apocryphal, although it is mentioned by several reviewers.<\/p>\n

The production was well-received, although some reviewers wondered somewhat cynically, who was the greater draw: O\u2019Toole or Beckett. [3]<\/sup><\/a><\/sup> The Irish Times<\/i> commends the skilled variety style performances of both Donal McCann and Peter O\u2019Toole, and how the latter refrains from showing his star quality virtuosity. The set (Norah McGuinness) together with Leslie Scott\u2019s lighting conveyed \u2018all the desolation of Beckett\u2019s wasteland\u2019.[4]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Beckett tried to prevent this production happening, but succeeded only in limiting it to one month and preventing it from becoming a repertory piece.[5]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> James Knowlson suggests various reasons for this antipathy, from his feelings about Ireland, a personal dislike of O\u2019Toole and a never-forgotten grudge against Alan Simpson for changing the opening lines of the play in 1955. While the Irish reviewers were positive, if cynical, about the casting of a star actor, Beckett reports to Con Levanthal with some satisfaction Mary Manning-Howe\u2019s view of the production as \u2018appalling\u2019 and \u2018O\u2019Toole-ridden beyond redemption\u2019.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Peter O’Toole, Donal McCann and Danny Figgis went on to play the same roles in a 1971 production of the play, directed by Frederick Monnoyer, at the Nottingham Playhouse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
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\n

[1]<\/a> http:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/arts-entertainment\/theatre-dance\/features\/godot-has-arrived-the-stars-of-becketts-masterpiece-reveal-what-the-play-means-to-them-1648232.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[2]<\/a> \u2018An Abbey Waiting for Beckett.\u2019 The Irish Independent, <\/i>6 November, 1969. University of Reading Archives, Stage Files, MS 1792, f687.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[3]<\/a> \u2018A Great Year for Actors.\u2019 The Irish Independent<\/i>, 4 January 1970.\u00a0 University of Reading Archives, Stage Files, MS 1792, f973.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[4]<\/a> \u2018Memorable \u201cGodot\u201d at the Abbey.\u2019 The Irish Times<\/i>, 2nd<\/sup> December, 1969.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[5]<\/a> William Hutchings, Samuel Beckett\u2019s Waiting for Godot: A Reference Guide (USA: Praeger, 2005), p. 87.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[6]<\/a> Damned to Fame<\/i>, pp. 566-7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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