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I'd actually intended to see No Man's Land. Not for any special reason, but because I'd tried and failed to get tickets to it when it started out at Berkeley Rep, and partly because I've already determined that I'm not a fan of Beckett. But Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart were doing both on alternate evenings at the Cort Theatre and when Lauri got us tickets there was a complex confusion that ended up with us seeing Waiting for Godot instead. This was not actually a problem, because the main purpose was to get a chance to see McKellen and Stewart together on stage. And we accomplished that. And it was wonderful.

So, to begin with: I am not a fan of Beckett. This was adequately determined by seeing Happy Days at Cal Shakes a couple years ago. Depressing, incomprehensible, nihillistic rambling is Not My Thing. So I am not going to review the play itself.

But the framework of the play involves two old friends rambling and joking and reminiscing and coming around again to a continuing but ultimately unimportant topic, and reacting to the absurdities of everyday existence. And taken in that context, the two men were perfectly typecast. They managed to make Beckett's absurd drivel entertaining and amusing, as if you were listening in on a conversation between two charming and witty people where it was unnecessary to know what they were talking about to enjoy the experience. The physical comedy was another plus and I could swear there was a touch or two of improv at times. At least, there were times when the characters' laughter seemed to be based in part on genuine surprise at each other's antics, so either there was some improvisation going on or they really are just that good.

And they are just that good. I'll confess, there's enough of the fan-girl in me that I went solely for the chance to see McKellen and Stewart on stage live together. But anyone who can make me glad I sat through Waiting for Godot is Just That Good.

(Bechdel Test score: Fail)