The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

First Look - Reviews
Home›featured-blogs›First Look - Reviews›First Look review: The Hypocrites’ take on Samuel Beckett’s existential “Endgame” is a rewarding watch

First Look review: The Hypocrites’ take on Samuel Beckett’s existential “Endgame” is a rewarding watch

By TheRealChicagoOnline
March 11, 2015
448
0
Share:

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Endgame-10

By Scott Hartge

Playing at: The Den Theatre mainstage, 1329-1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Through April 4, 2015. www.The-Hypocrites.com

Basic storyline: The Hypocrites’ rendition of Samuel Beckett’s End Game observes the tired existence of Hamm, an elderly blind man who is unable to stand. He is accompanied by his servant, Clov, who is unable to sit, and his trash can-inhabiting parents, Nagg and Nell. In what appears to be a post-apocalyptic world, these four sad people are living out the rest of their lonely lives in a tiny, dust-covered, trash-ridden apartment. While the world outlook is bleak, the play offers a light-hearted portrayal of the cyclical and depressing day-to-day events these characters go through.

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

The play begins with Clov stiffly trudging into the cramped, dimly lit apartment. For what seems to be an eternity, Clov repeatedly gets his hand pinched by opening and closing a step ladder, a poor reminder that even little annoyances still exist in the most horrible of situations. He then awakens Hamm, who is quietly sleeping in the middle of the room, by removing a bloody handkerchief from his face. From this point forward, the play unravels into quick back-and-forth bickering between characters who question the lives they lead — with surprisingly hilarious results.

What stood out: End Game might be a depressing depiction of a potential future, but the dialogue between characters is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The actors display their undeniable talents through the use of lengthy monologues, and the set and makeup help capture their downtrodden existence. The walls may as well be painted with ash, since the previous coat of green is hardly visible, and the characters’ costumes and clownish makeup are cringe worthy (in a good way).

Final thoughts: While End Game requires a significant amount of active listening, it is a rewarding watch. It’s odd mix of sadness and dry humor provides a wholly unique and significant experience.

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

TagsChicago TheatreDen TheatreEndgameSamuel BeckettThe Hypocrites
Previous Article

Shop Around the Corner: Find chic, comfort ...

Next Article

The Local Corner: Exploring the Armitage and ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • OldThe Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Chicago Halloween and holiday events, wine dinners and lots of snakes

    October 20, 2014
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: “The Terrible” perfectly executes the complexities of mental health and relationships

    October 27, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Griffin Theatre’s “The Birds” is a haunting tale about the dangers of human nature

    July 1, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Subtext Theater Company’s “A Prayer for the Sandinistas” tackles issues of the heart, family and the value ...

    May 28, 2017
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: The entertaining “Lottery Day” at the Goodman Theatre holds a magnifying glass to Chicago, revealing both pleasures ...

    April 11, 2019
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Chicago’s iconic architecture series, part two: The Chicago Theatre, Merchandise Mart and Second City

    May 24, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Top Chef, Chicago style: Analyzing the city’s hottest restaurants

  • Around TownHidden Gems

    Chicago’s hidden gems: Swim Cafe, Rudy’s Roundup General Store and Colors and Bottles

  • Around TownGeneral FeaturesOther Recent Articles

    Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • LATEST REVIEWS

  • TOP REVIEWS

Timeline

  • November 11, 2021

    Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

  • July 31, 2019

    Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & Ash

  • July 30, 2019

    First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater experience

  • July 28, 2019

    Finger lickin’ good: Six trusted Chicago spots for a stellar barbecue experience

  • July 25, 2019

    The Big City Blog: Four Friday Night Flights beer tastings remain this summer, including July 26 in Ravenswood

Latest Comments

  • The 14 Best Fireplaces in Chicago | UrbanMatter
    on
    October 11, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: The Real Chicago […]

    Cozy on up: We asked active Chicagoans for their favorite spots to warm up in the ...

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum | FreeForAll.org
    on
    January 16, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum – FreeForAll.org
    on
    October 23, 2016
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • The Real Chicago – The Big City Blog: A very Chicago night on the town
    on
    May 31, 2016
    […] up was The Redhead Piano Bar for drinks and live music. I’ve said it before ...

    Friendly, unfussy, and serious about music: Hanging with Marshall Nelson from the Redhead Piano Bar

  • Scouting Logan Square: A Renewed Historical Neighborhood - The Annex, a blog by Casamatic
    on
    March 10, 2016
    […] (cover photo via The Real Chicago) […]

    The rise of Logan Square: Why this diverse area has quickly become one of Chicago’s hottest ...

Find us on Facebook

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
  • Latest Posts

  • Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    November 11, 2021
  • Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 31, 2019
  • First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 30, 2019

Photostream

    Follow us

    © Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.