Bendall takes role in ‘Waiting for Godot’

Konner Bendall has been chasing the stage since he first put on a Santa suit for a school program at seven years old. Now, the Russellville native is stepping into one of theater’s most curious and enduring roles, bringing both humor and heart to “Waiting for Godot” in an intimate Shoals production.

“I was kind of addicted ever since then,” Bendall said, recalling that early introduction to performing. What began as a childhood taste for the spotlight grew into a deeper appreciation for storytelling, spectacle and the connection that happens between actor and audience.

That connection was one he chased from high school plays to college productions at the University of North Alabama, where he graduated in 2021 with a degree in theater, and even to stage beyond north Alabama. Last summer, Bendall spent three months in Nebraska working at the Brownville Village Theatre, gaining experience and perspective in a different artistic community.

Still, it was the Shoals that called him back.

“I love it here,” he said. “It’s my home, and my family’s close. This area is supportive of the arts. There’s a lot of opportunity here for someone who wants to do art.”

That sense of opportunity took shape recently when Bendall came across a social media post announcing auditions for “Waiting for Godot.” The title immediately stood out as a work Bendall already knew well.

He had performed in the play once before during his time at UNA, taking on the role of Vladimir. This time, however, he was drawn to a different character entirely.

“I really wanted the chance to audition for Estragon,” Bendall said. “When I played Vladimir, I loved it. It’s a great character, but Estragon is a little closer to who I am as a person. He’s really goofy and kind of bumbling. That’s more like me.”

That familiarity with the text and the desire to explore it from a new angle made the project especially compelling. Returning to the same play with more life experience, Bendall said, has changed the way he understands its meaning.

“I think with me being a little older, I see more of the depth in this show that went a little over my head the first time,” he admitted. “It really is a funny show, very entertaining, but it also has these deep, universal truths.”

Written more than 80 years ago by Samuel Beckett, “Waiting for Godot” remains one of the most frequently discussed and reinterpreted works in modern theater. Its minimal plot — two characters waiting endlessly for someone named Godot — has sparked decades of analysis and debate, with each production offering its own perspective.

For Bendall, that ambiguity is part of the appeal.

“I think it’s a show you can see once and think one thing about it,” he said, “and then see it the next time and think, ‘Oh, maybe that’s not right.’” Director Stephanie Crothers shares this fascination. She first encountered the play more than 20 years ago in college and has carried it with her ever since.

“It’s one of those plays that stuck with me,” she said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

Now based in the Shoals after moving from Los Angeles, California, Crothers has taken on the challenge of independently producing and directing the show. It’s an endeavor driven by both passion and a desire to contribute to the local arts community.

CONTRIBUTED
Avery Quinn, left, and Konner Bendall rehearse inside the Village School in Sheffield.

“I grew up doing community theater,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always been passionate about.”

That passion extends not only to the play itself, but also to the space in which it will be performed. The production is staged at The Village School, a historic Sheffield building that Crothers saw as an ideal setting for a work like “Godot.”

“It’s a beautiful structure in the community with so much history,” she said. “It’s kind of an untapped space that can be used for theater.”

Because the play requires minimal set design, it lends itself naturally to a “found space” approach. For Crothers, whose background includes immersive and black-box theater in Los Angeles, that challenge is part of the appeal.

“This show doesn’t require a big set,” she said. “That’s the beauty of it, but also the challenge. It has to come from the actors.”

That philosophy has shaped the rehearsal process, where collaboration and authenticity take center stage.

For Bendall, this approach has opened the door to a performance that leans into both the humor and the humanity of Estragon, a character who embodies the play’s unique balance of absurdity and sincerity.

“I love stories like these that are really complex, but it’s also kind of a clown show,” Bendall said with a laugh. “At my heart, I am a clown. So, you put those two things together and I’m there.”

That blend is what makes “Waiting for Godot” so distinctive. Though often labeled as abstract or unconventional, the play resonates through its portrayal of relationships, particularly the bond between Estragon and Vladimir.

“They’re very dependent on one another,” Crothers said. “They love each other and hate each other. They pass the time the best way they can. It’s really sweet, and sometimes painful.”

That dynamic, she added, reflects something deeply recognizable.

“They explore ways of coping that I think are very real for people who are in a place of struggle or confusion,” she said. “But they still find a way to enjoy each other.”

Beyond the stage, both Bendall and Crothers see the production as part of a larger movement toward independent, community- driven theater in the Shoals.

“This is something Stephanie is doing on her own,” Bendall said. “That kind of courage — we need more of that energy here. Do the kind of art you want to see.”

Crothers hopes others will feel inspired to do just that.

“Start with what moves you,” she said. “Whatever story you can’t shake, start there. Find the people, find the space and connect with the community.”

For Bendall, that spirit of creativity extends into his own future goals. By day, he works as a chef at Banqet Patisserie in Florence — a career he pursued to put himself through school. By night, he returns to the stage, where he hopes to continue performing and eventually produce work of his own.

“I really want to jump into the mold that Stephanie has created here,” he said. “Do some of the shows that I want to see and produce my own theater here. Somebody broke the ice for me.”

As for audiences, Bendall hopes the experience is both simple and lasting.

“I hope they’re entertained,” he said. “I hope they laugh and maybe think a little bit. I don’t even know about what. That’s not my job to tell them, but I hope they come and laugh and maybe think a little bit.”