Waiting For Guffman

Waiting For Guffman

If you've ever seen or read Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot, in which the main character is waiting for someone that never arrives, then you'd immediately understand that Christopher Guest's Waiting For Guffman is also about a man waiting for someone that never arrives.

In this case, that man is Mort Guffman, Broadway producer, who inept, gay drama director, Corky St. Claire (Christopher Guest), is hoping will come down to Blaine, Missouri and see his (Corky's) new show. And what a show it is! Corky's Red, White & Blaine community theater extravaganza is a celebration of all things Blaine ("the stool capital of the world") for its 150th anniversary.

The townsfolk, of course, are disturbingly eccentric in their normality and their very understandable dreams of stardom. Waiting For Guffman isn't an attack upon middle America, it's just a gentle, satirical look at our eccentricities and the hopes that we all have. 

The ensemble is superb, in this, the first of Guest's improvised-by-the-actors movies with the standout for me being Guest, himself. As with all of the films, though, the hilarity depends on whether you "get" the humor. There's an irony, a satire and a smuttiness that some will find brave, clever and a joy to behold. Others will find Waiting For Guffman terribly over-rated and perhaps even filthy. 

Of the three improvisational movies, this is now probably my least favorite, simply because, as the first, the ensemble was finding its feet. However, that's in hindsight, because, if I remember correctly, when it premiered in 1997, Waiting For Guffman was funny, witty and a marvellous night's entertainment.

Waiting For Guffman DVD

"...If you are a community theatre person, have done any high school theatre, or even seen any community theatre productions then this is the film for you..." Amazon reviewer Nicolle D.B. Erickson

"...I wrestled with whether Waiting For Guffman is charicature, parody, or burlesque. I settled on parody, but really Guffman is simply an intelligent, warm, funny film (but) what makes it all work is the kindness of the film and the sincerity of the performances..." Amazon reviewer Bruce Varner

"...Just as silly as the word sesqui-centennial, Waiting For Guffman is a little film with a tremendous spirit...Although it's a comedy to be appreciated by any fan of the cinema, "Guffman" will leave an even stronger mark for those from Smalltown, USA and for those who love to make fun of aspiring theater majors..." Amazon reviewer J.D. Tillot

Waiting For Guffman poster

If you haven't seen any of Guest's movies, do see Waiting For Guffman first, as you'll then be able to see how the ensemble develops, creating a body of high quality work that is unique, a plaudit that I can very rarely give to anything.     

see also:

• wikipedia Waiting For Guffman