“Keanu Reeves, 61, Leaves Fans Uneasy After Sparking Concern at Broadway Theater Ahead of ‘Stiff and Uneven’ Waiting for Godot Performance — Mixed Reviews Question Whether the Beloved Star Can Truly Conquer the Stage”
Keanu Reeves has long been adored as one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic and beloved figures, known for his humility, kindness, and unforgettable turns in The Matrix and John Wick. But his latest project — stepping onto Broadway in Samuel Beckett’s notoriously challenging Waiting for Godot — has proven to be a test that has left both fans and critics deeply divided, and in some cases, even concerned.
The 61-year-old actor, who stars alongside his longtime friend and Bill & Ted co-star Alex Winter, took to the stage at the Hudson Theatre in New York City last week for the highly anticipated revival of Beckett’s existential classic. While anticipation was sky-high, several theatergoers reported feeling “uneasy” as Reeves appeared visibly tense before the curtain rose, his stiff body language sparking murmurs among attendees. That uneasiness only grew once the performance began.
Early reviews have not been kind. The New York Post described Reeves’s portrayal as “stiff, flat, and emotionally distant,” noting that much of the character’s charm and vulnerability was lost in translation. The Washington Post echoed this sentiment, calling the production “visually impressive but hollow at its core.” Meanwhile, New York Theater observed that Reeves delivered moments of brilliance through physical gestures and frustrated outbursts, but lacked a consistent spark, leaving the performance feeling “hesitant” and incomplete.
The source of the concern, however, isn’t solely the uneven quality of Reeves’s acting. Some attendees pointed out that before the play began, Reeves seemed withdrawn and unusually frail, walking with careful, deliberate steps. While there has been no official word of any health issue, the sight of the actor, who usually exudes effortless charisma, sparked whispers of worry that he may have taken on a role too taxing for his current stage of life.
Still, not everyone is ready to dismiss Reeves’s Broadway debut. Loyal fans defended him on social media, arguing that Waiting for Godot is intentionally opaque, slow, and existentially heavy — a play designed to unsettle and perplex audiences rather than entertain in a conventional way. “Keanu was exactly as Beckett intended,” one supporter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s not about flashy emotions, it’s about the emptiness. He nailed it.”
For Reeves, this role represents more than just another acting credit. In interviews, he described performing Beckett as a “dream come true” and an artistic challenge he has wanted to face for decades. His reunion with Alex Winter has also been celebrated, offering fans a nostalgic link to their Bill & Ted days, albeit in a radically different, more serious context.
Whether Reeves’s Broadway run will recover from its rocky start remains to be seen. What’s certain is that audiences are watching closely, torn between admiration for the actor’s daring artistic leap and anxiety over whether he can truly embody the depth and rhythm of one of theater’s most demanding works. For now, Keanu Reeves stands at a crossroads — one foot firmly in Hollywood stardom, and the other, shakier, in the world of high theater.
