Absurd drama sees developers eyeing Playhouse

Posted on Sunday, May. 29, 2005

IN MY OPINION

Absurd drama sees developers eyeing Playhouse

By JIM DEFEDE
jdefede@herald.com

Estragon: Nothing to be done.

Vladimir: I'm beginning to come round to that opinion.

-- Opening lines in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot

Beckett's tragic existential comedy made its U.S. premiere at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in 1956. And like so many future Playhouse productions, it bombed.

Today the Playhouse is at risk of a physical implosion.

A developer wants to tear down the 79-year-old structure -- one of the oldest and most distinctive buildings in Miami -- so he can pack the lot with a bunch of tacky and overpriced condos and a parking garage.

The sad part of this tale is that the developer is being warmly greeted by the Playhouse's own board of directors, who would be given $8 million for the development rights to the property. The Playhouse says it needs the money to remain financially viable. The developer also promises to build a new, smaller theater somewhere on the property.

Call it Miami's own theater of the absurd.

Which brings us back to Beckett's Godot.

The lead characters, Estragon and Vladimir, spend the entire play by the side of a road, alongside a tree, anticipating the arrival of a man named Godot. The most striking attribute of these men is that they have virtually no memory of the past. Even within the play itself, they are prone to forget the things they have discussed.

Estragon and Vladimir are perfect metaphors for Miami.

We have no memories, no understanding of the place in which we live. To the vast majority of the people in Miami, this city's history means nothing. Instead we find ways to amuse ourselves in the present, waiting for something ''special'' to come our way.

Two other characters in the play, Pozzo and Lucky, are master and slave. Lucky carries Pozzo's belongings and has a rope around his neck, which Pozzo tugs on when he wants to get Lucky's attention. Halfway through Act I, Pozzo and Lucky find Estragon and Vladimir by the tree.

Arrogant and dismissive, Pozzo -- in my reinterpretation of Beckett -- represents many of the developers and builders in this community. ''I am perhaps not particularly human,'' Pozzo says. ``But who cares?''

Pozzo howls when challenged by Estragon and Vladimir. ''A moment ago you were calling me Sir, in fear and trembling,'' he says. ``Now you're asking me questions. No good will come of this!''

Lucky, of course, embodies Miami's politicians. Even when Estragon and Vladimir rush to Lucky's defense and demand that Pozzo treat him better, Lucky attacks them, kicking Estragon in the shins.

It turns out that Lucky likes the rope around his neck, likes carrying his master's bags, because it makes him feel useful and even important. He believes himself to be smarter than his master but has difficulty carrying a thought to its conclusion.

Act I closes when a boy arrives to tell Estragon and Vladimir that Godot will not be able to join them today, but he will try to make it tomorrow.

Act II takes place the next day with Estragon and Vladimir again waiting by the tree. Estragon, however, remembers nothing of what happened the day before. Vladimir and Estragon laugh and argue and tell stories, but mostly they just wait.

This time, when Pozzo and Lucky pass by, Pozzo is blind and Lucky is mute. Another perfect metaphor for Miami: the developers blind to the damage they cause while the politicians remain silent.

The play ends with the boy telling Estragon and Vladimir that Godot will not come today. Maybe tomorrow.

Estragon and Vladimir are annoyed. They agree to wait no longer. They vow to leave. But as the curtain lowers, neither man moves. They just sit there, waiting.

And so it is in Miami. Do we sit and wait and hope something good comes along? Or do we take action?

Today the fight is in the Grove to save a historic treasure. Tomorrow it will be in Florida City and Hialeah and West Miami-Dade to preserve the Everglades. All battles worth waging.

And the next time Godot plays in Miami, folks might actually appreciate it. After all, we're living it.

Copyright 2005 Knight Ridder