Two years ago, Samuel Beckett's theatrical parable Waiting for Godot came to the attention of American audiences and moved many of us to wild enthusiasm. (The fact that many others were put off entirely by it only added to the fun.) Whatever Mr. Beckett may have intended in that play, actually he had written an enigma which teased one with the question whether it was worth it to wait for the appearance of an absolute that seemed perpetually slow in coming. The play was open-ended, somewhat like Frank Stockton's story "The Lady or the Tiger?" It left at least the possibility that the attitude of waiting is a part of salvation.

It was too much to hope that Mr. Beckett's next play would be as good. Any such hope is now disappointed with the arrival of Endgame, which, however, is not without its points.

Samuel Beckett's plays have...