The nervous giggling of the Haymarket audience has a certain irony when we look at the hopelessness of waiting, cold, thirsty and hungry, for someone who doesn’t send a text message to say that they are delayed.  James Macdonald has maximised the comic opportunities.  Each time Estragon suggests leaving, Vladimir refrains “No,”  Estragon says “Why?” and Vladimir says “We are waiting for Godot.”  But the giggling is understandable because one way of finding relief is to laugh and Whishaw and Msamati convey terrific physical comedy.  A highlight is the musical chairs theme, like a music hall routine, two people and three hats to exchange in turn. 

It is more difficult for me to laugh at the slavish Lucky (Tom Edden) and his vile master Pozzo (the magnificently evil Jonathan Slinger) because of the indignity suffered. Pozzo manipulates and persuades Vladimir to feel sorry for Pozzo as he blames Lucky for their situation. Vladimir then verbally assaults Lucky which is out of character.

Lucky’s speech in Act One is made without his hat as if part of his brain has been removed.  It is a 700 word monologue of nonsense and confusion and listening to it is a bit like being trapped on the underground by someone with mental health problems shouting in your face.