There’s always that bit of a nostalgic moment when you can’t help but feel sorry for those less fortunate than you. But what if the less fortunate isn’t unfortunate at all? What if that poor repressed homeless person on the corner was rehearsing for a famous play? What if this homeless person you were so eager to help was a world famous actor?
Surprise, surprise. Just when you think you’re doing a good deed, it turns out to be just another thought in the wind. A nice bystander walking the streets of Melbourne, Australia offered an Aussie dollar to a disheveled man kneeling by the stage door of the Comedy Theatre back in 2010.
Apparently unrecognized to the thoughtful stranger, nonetheless, the “hobo” was an in character well costumed Sir Ian McKellen, one of Britain’s internationally acclaimed actors who’s been nominated for just about every acting award worth winning, according to the Huffington Post.
The illustrious actor was in Melbourne rehearsing for the classic piece “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett.
Shocked and amused at the random act of kindness the actor tried to recreate the event the very next day, earning himself yet another $2. Dressed as his “Waiting for Godot” character, Estragon, McKellen sees for himself that in the real world people do act humane.
This rather random act has renewed by the amount of attention received from the photos created capturing this “historic” act of kindness. It has sparked many an interest on what could be a newly acclaimed play that is currently in previews at Broadway’s Cort Theater and will officially open later this month.
This play portrays “now mythic tramps, Estragon and Vladimir (Patrick Stewart), living in eternal hope of salvation in their own no-man’s land,” according to Vanity Fair. We can almost say that for a single bleak moment, faith in humanity has been temporarily restored, thanks to the greatness of actors.
