Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The brilliance of Beckett and Worth, June 30, 2003
Irene Worth was a great actress. When teamed with Samuel Beckett's words, it is an experience to be treaured. True, Beckett is not for everyone. But for anyone with a brain, a heart, a soul, and a sense of humanity, Beckett connects. Those who don't "get" Beckett tend to hate Beckett and that's too bad. For the rest of us, Beckett hits a chord, creates a visceral reaction, illuminates the abyss. And Miss Worth (whose name was pronounced Irene-y, just as it is in England, where she spent a great deal of her career) is simply delightful to watch, as she always was. She combines the sadness, optimism, coyness, despair, beauty, and humour that is Winnie, in a way that few actresses could hope to do.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential and timeless: a perfect marriage of two artists, October 3, 2003
One of Beckett's most profound and moving plays is also one of his funniest. Irene Worth, one of the world's greatest stage actresses, embodies one of theater's greatest female roles with both a lyrical tenderness and a deep sensuality.There is, in fact, nothing overblown or stagy about her performance: Worth is the quintessential Winnie. Famous for her deeply intelligent interpretations and blessed with a marvelously resonant voice, she is the ideal actress for a part that requires so little physicality and so much vocal depth. She understands every word of Beckett's text, and conveys her understanding with every breath she takes. To say she is too "theatrical" and to ridicule the pronunciation of her name are pitifully inaccurate and pitifully beside the point. The recording of her performance in this great play is a marvelous document to possess.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great introduction to beckett's theatrical work, May 26, 2006
This is a wonderful production of Happy Days, as far as I know faithful to Beckett's specific directions (he considered his stage directions as important as the dialog). Irene Worth is magnificent, as is the actor who played Willy. By all means, buy this DVD and enjoy it. If you're new to Beckett, this will whet your appetite for more. For the big Beckett fan (like me), I highly recommend Beckett on Film, the 4-DVD set of all 19 of Beckett's theatrical works, with a fine documentary and commentary, done by 19 contemporary directors. It's pricey but well worth the money.
There is an interesting controversy about filming Beckett's work and the 'interpretation' that that implies. Make your own decision -- and enjoy.
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