Directed by David Oliver

March 5-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-29 at 8:00pm

Time Out London: "Philip Ridley is a singular writer, probably a genius, and the creator of some of the most compelling British plays of the last several years."

AUGUST 6-8 AT 8:00 PM
Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle, 612 Fillmore Avenue, south of Broadway at Paderewski
Admission is Free!

Directed by Vincent O'Neill
Performed by David Oliver
2009 Artie Award for Outstanding Actor

The Beckett Estate has granted exclusive rights for a revival of the 1990 production of ENDWORDS, adapted by Vincent & Chris O’Neill from the works of Samuel Beckett. This performance which premiered at Buffalo’s Franklin Street Theater (now the Chop House!) and New York City’s Irish Repertory Theatre will again be directed by Vincent O’Neill, Artistic Director of Buffalo’s Irish Classical Theatre Company and performed by actor David Oliver.

In 1990 the original rights to perform this Beckett compilation, ENDWORDS, was granted to the O’Neill brothers by Barney Rosset, creator of the magazine Evergreen Review which first published the seminal Beat writers of the 50’s. He was owner of Grove Press which published Beckett, Genet, Pinter and Ionesco thus being the first to introduce these essential writers to the American consciousness. It was Rosset who won a legal battle to publish the uncensored version of D. H. Lawrence’s LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER in the United States, and in 1964, won Supreme Court affirmation to publish Henry Miller’s TROPIC OF CANCER. A true pioneer for free speech and First Amendment rights, Barney still lives in New York and has given his blessing to this revival of ENDWORDS.

ENDWORDS follows the journey of a tenacious wanderer, the reoccurring tramp figure of Beckett’s works, as he wrestles with the meaning of his life. Through comical experiences and insightful observations he revisits his past and finds a sort of peace in his future. This array of materials has been compiled from Beckett’s plays and much from his lesser known novels, which reveal a great sense of humor, drama and storytelling at its most entertaining.

Vincent O’Neill was born in Dublin and trained as an actor at the Abbey Theatre, later joining the Abbey Theatre Company. He studied mime for three years in Paris with Marcel Marceau. Vincent emigrated to the United States in 1989, he settled in Buffalo where he co-founded the Irish Classical Theatre Company in 1990, where he is Artistic Director.

David Oliver trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has twice resettled in his native Western New York, where he has played roles at several local theaters. In the last few seasons at Torn Space Theater he appeared as Clove in ENDGAME and the Marquis de Sade in QUILLS. As a director he recently presented Philip Ridley’s THE FASTEST CLOCK IN THE UNIVERSE at Torn Space.

ENDWORDS follows the journey of a tenacious wanderer as he wrestles with the meaning of his life. Through hilarious experiences and insightful observations he revisits his past and finds peace in his future. This array of materials has been compiled from Becket’s plays and much from his lesser known novels which reveal a great sense of humor and highly clever and entertaining storytelling.