This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending Waiting for Godot [presented by the Classical Theatre of Harlem and Creative Time] in the Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans. The turnout was gigantic and unfortunately droves of people had to be turned away.

The performance was free, and the people at Creative Time created a ‘Shadow Fund,’ matching the production budget dollar-for dollar, giving local organizations ‘rebuilding support in the neighborhoods where the play is presented.’ After hustling my way to a ticket, I entered the abandoned, overgrown lawn where a gumbo reception was taking place. Soon after, The Big 9 Social Aid and Pleasure Club led the scores of locals to the staging area, complete with a traditional second line.

What followed was an accessible, humorous, stirring rendition of the Beckett classic. The entire case [Wendell Pierce, J Kyle Manzay, T. Ryder Smith, & Mark McLaughlin] were stellar. The entire stage was set outdoors, most likely where a building stood several years ago. The levee loomed in the background, framed by oak trees.  An occasional boat or train could be heard moaning in the distance, and the night air became gradually cooler as the desperation of the characters mounted.

Outside of the punning poignancy of the concept of the play [the characters are waiting in vain for a person, friend, deity, savior that isn’t coming or maybe doesn’t even exist — like so many stranded Gulf Coast residents during Katrina], the play was enthusiastically attended and was ultimately commissioned unselfishly by an outside artists’ organization with dueling creative and philanthropic goals.

The play will be staged this coming weekend [November 9 & 10] in the Gentilly area.  Please visit creativetime.org for more.

Some photos I took