Last August, our Dueling Critics dished out their special brand of theater analysis for Waiting for Godot. Now, they’re back to give us an earful about the other Beckett play. The name Endgame comes from the final few moves in a chess match and the Beckett play by this name features four characters who may be the last people left alive after some sort of calamity has sent the world into its final throes. Unlike a typical play, action is replaced by words and ideas. Characters with nuance are replaced by archetypes. And life’s little moments are replaced by Life with a Capitol “L.” To answer all of life’s and Endgame’s riddles are the Dueling Critics Jonathan Abarbanel and Kelly Kleiman.

On Stage:
Endgame
Through June 6
Steppenwolf Theater

Music Button:  Josh Berman, “Nori”, from the CD Old Idea, (Delmark)