On Beckett Reviews

Talkin Broadway- Highly Recommended

"...Audiences who might be put off by the thought of attending a one-person deep dive into the writings of Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) should think again. Bill Irwin, a skilled actor and trained clown, has brought his 90-minute solo performance, On Beckett, to the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Klein Theatre in Washington through March 15. It's both easily accessible and frequently hilarious."

Washington City Paper- Recommended

"...Rather than through literary analysis, Irwin approaches each Beckettian passage from an actor’s perspective, considering what the character wants, how they will get it, and what the role of the actor is in an audience’s overall experience of absurdist dramas like Waiting for Godot, Happy Days, or Not I. It’s an earnest and compelling look into the actor’s process, soliciting more respect for the players at the helm of such theatrical monoliths."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...What makes “On Beckett” especially generous is its accessibility. Audiences do not need to be Beckett scholars, classicists, or students of French or Irish literature to engage with the material. While those with academic familiarity may recognize references more quickly, Irwin acts as a guide, translating, contextualizing, and illuminating Beckett’s ideas without flattening their complexity."

The Georgetown Dish- Recommended

"...Again, one-man shows are not everyone's thing. Ninety minutes of Bill Irwin talking non-stop, even with the great clowning around, which he is known for, can be a lot for some. But to be fair, overall, the opening night audience clearly loved it and gave him a rousing ovation. The show is 90 minutes with no intermission."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Throughout On Beckett, Irwin just chats with the audience about how he thinks and works. During talk shows and podcasts, in interviews, and on red carpets, actors seem to always be "engaging" with the public. On Beckett is so not that; this is an hour and a half of one genius (Irwin earned his MacArthur Fellowship in 1984.) casually discussing another genius with a roomful of people, who were at least genius enough to procure a ticket."

K Street Magazine- Highly Recommended

"...Now on stage at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre, On Beckett brings the spare, searching prose of Samuel Beckett into intimate focus. The production, performed and shaped by stage savant Bill Irwin, is part lecture, part lament, part lightly mischievous master class."

Hill Rag- Highly Recommended

"...For those who find Beckett obtuse or impenetrable, Irwin serves as a guide to understanding the author’s irony and humor. It is a singular performance not to be missed."

A Theatre-Goer's Thoughts- Highly Recommended

"...On Beckett is not a play, but it is a show, featuring a stellar performance by a tremendous talent. Irwin addresses the audience directly, connecting various passages from Beckett’s works with his own thoughts. It is almost as if we are being given a tour of Beckett’s world by someone who has visited many times. He expresses his fascination and delight with Beckett’s language. All the while he reminds us that his relationship with Beckett is that of an actor to a writer and not as a scholar."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...Over the course of 90 minutes, Irwin regales audiences with stories and excerpts from Beckett’s works, employing a pared-down yet playful style that seems deliciously in line with Beckett’s vision for modern theater. The evening is simply sublime."