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View Full Version : "Krapp's last tape": the loss of happiness, love and own identify



Uroboros1989
12-19-2010, 06:01 AM
What do you think about Krapp's last tape? A few weeks ago I watched a theatrical performace, the first live performace of Beckett's play! Before the event i had been so excited. Taking into consideration the fact that in my country it's highly unlikely that any director will stage a Beckett's play (a few did, the majority of them with failure) I had never before had an opportunity to watch it. As far as Samuel's plays are concerned I'm a traditionalist. To my mind it's very difficult to perform his play. Each elemnt has a vital importance (stage directions; didaskalia). Krapp...didn't live up to my expectaions. The director overdid setting (in the comparison with original text) and make the persona of Krapp more comic, (a kind of pantomime) or even clownish. I do agree that Beckett's characters are clown-like but it was too exaggerated! :/
I think that it's a great play. It differs a bit from other Beckett's plays. Even the ending, the play is finished. Most of the author's plays don't finish (sense or peretuality and circularity <-- e.g; Waiting for Godot , Footfalls , etc.). What do you think about a coruse of events in the play? How did Krapp change in the comparison with 39-year-old man (on recording). I would like to hear your opinions, ideas etc...

Emil Miller
12-19-2010, 06:17 AM
In terms of comic potential, this is right up there with Jackson Pollock.

Uroboros1989
12-19-2010, 06:33 AM
Are you trying to compare Pollock's art to Beckett's play? or what? I don't get a point

Emil Miller
12-19-2010, 07:02 AM
Are you trying to compare Pollock's art to Beckett's play? or what? I don't get a point

You really have to be a native English speaker to understand.

Uroboros1989
12-19-2010, 08:06 AM
please explain yourself

Emil Miller
12-19-2010, 01:43 PM
The word Krapp and something very like Pollock are used in English vernacula. It would be indelicate of me to expain further.

King Mob
12-20-2010, 11:13 PM
I watched the filmed version of this play that BBC did a few years ago, with the great Harold Pinter playing Krapp, which I highly recommend. It can be found online. There's nothing comical in that one.

As regards the play and the ending, Krapp is always mocking his young naivete. Ultimately, the play is about regret then. Regret mixed with ironical sadness and anger. The last lines of the play uttered by the tape have stayed in my mind and they always send a chill down my spine:
"Perhaps my best days are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't want them back."