Textplay review – Beckett and Stoppard SMS comedy is short on lols

Available online
A virtual exchange imagined between two theatrical greats is full of literary references, mannered jokes and inconsequential chatter

This virtual conversation between Samuel Beckett and Tom Stoppard imagines what two giants of the theatre would talk about - or, rather, text each other about.

Nothing of much interest, it turns out. Written by the pseudonymous Archer Eland (could there be a more contrived pseudonym?) and produced by NYU Skirball, it plays out in messages over 35 minutes, complete with a sad face emoji (Beckett), keyboard smiles (Stoppard) and love hearts (both), reflecting our own WhatsApp ramblings back at us.

Available online until 3 December