The Underpants Godot

by Duncan Pflaster

In “The Underpants Godot”, a director named Doug is surreptitiously rehearsing for an avant-garde production of “Waiting for Godot” with the characters played by hot dudes in their underpants instead of old men. A representative from the Samuel Beckett estate crashes their dress rehearsal to investigate. The play is a meta-theatrical piece about the limits of adaptation and interpretation.

In “The Underpants Godot”, a director named Doug is surreptitiously rehearsing for an avant-garde production of “Waiting for Godot” with the characters played by hot dudes in their underpants instead of old men. A representative from the Samuel Beckett estate crashes their dress rehearsal to investigate. The play is a meta-theatrical piece about the limits of adaptation and interpretation.

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The Underpants Godot

Recommended by

  • Kevin King: The Underpants Godot

    This play is fast-paced, fun, smart, and goofily sexy (if that's a thing). It's a fun commentary on what it takes to keep older works fresh, how sex sells, and just how far directors should go to interpret works. This play also gives some great peeks into the rehearsal process. I also love that there are characters who are just casually gay. They're very lived in.

    This play is fast-paced, fun, smart, and goofily sexy (if that's a thing). It's a fun commentary on what it takes to keep older works fresh, how sex sells, and just how far directors should go to interpret works. This play also gives some great peeks into the rehearsal process. I also love that there are characters who are just casually gay. They're very lived in.

  • Chris Gacinski: The Underpants Godot

    Pflaster’s “The Underpants Godot” is a hilarious parody piece that chronicles a sexualized production of Beckett’s magnum opus “Waiting for Godot.” Although it is implied that the play is about Beckett’s famous work, Pflaster has written it in such a way that one does not need knowledge of the work to enjoy this piece. I’d love to see this staged, it’s sure to be a fun experience for actor and audience alike!

    Pflaster’s “The Underpants Godot” is a hilarious parody piece that chronicles a sexualized production of Beckett’s magnum opus “Waiting for Godot.” Although it is implied that the play is about Beckett’s famous work, Pflaster has written it in such a way that one does not need knowledge of the work to enjoy this piece. I’d love to see this staged, it’s sure to be a fun experience for actor and audience alike!

  • Mark Loewenstern: The Underpants Godot

    This is a smart, fun, and provocative show, which both deeply honors and hilariously spoofs Beckett. It's also a wickedly blunt love letter to the theater and to comedy in general, telling some hard truths that you may not hear anywhere else. I've seen this show more than once and would see it again. It's had quite a few productions and deserves many more.

    This is a smart, fun, and provocative show, which both deeply honors and hilariously spoofs Beckett. It's also a wickedly blunt love letter to the theater and to comedy in general, telling some hard truths that you may not hear anywhere else. I've seen this show more than once and would see it again. It's had quite a few productions and deserves many more.

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

DOUG ALBERT: A director.

JENNA: A stage manager (can be an offstage voice).

TIM O’FARRELL: An actor, playing Vladimir in Waiting for Godot. Too young and good-looking for the role, really.

MARK RANSOM: An actor, playing Estragon in Waiting for Godot. Too young and good-looking for the role, also.

TARA GONDLEMAN: Representative of the Beckett Estate.

BIFF SHOWER: An annoying frat-guy kinda actor, playing Pozzo in Waiting for Godot.

KEVIN COOKER: A long-suffering actor, playing Lucky in Waiting for Godot.
  • Biff Shower
    An annoying frat-guy kinda actor, playing Pozzo in Waiting for Godot. Probably unncessarily sexy.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Kevin Cooker
    A long-suffering actor, playing Lucky in Waiting for Godot. Barely speaks.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Doug Albert
    A director, putting on an avant-garde production of "Waiting for Godot", in which the characters are hot young men in their underwear.
    Character Age
    30s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Jenna
    A stage manager running tech for the production (may just be an offstage voice shouting from the tech booth)
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Tim O'Farrell
    An actor, playing Vladimir in Waiting for Godot. Too young and good-looking for the role, really.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Mark Ransom
    An actor, playing Estragon in Waiting for Godot. Too young and good-looking for the role, also.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Tara Gondleman
    Representative of the Beckett Estate. Severe and frightening, but not without a fun side.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre Rhinoceros, Year 2019
  • Type Professional, Organization Nearly Naked Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, Year 2018
  • Type Professional, Organization The Secret Theatre, Year 2018
  • Type Professional, Organization The Secret Theatre, Year 2016
  • Type Professional, Organization Secret Theatre UNFringed Festival - Winner, Best Play, Year 2015

Awards

  • NYIT Award Nominations, Outstanding Play and Outstanding Supporting Actor
    New York Innovative Theatre Awards
    Finalist
    2017
  • Best Play
    The Secret Theatre
    Audience Choice
    2015