“Freedom” was written in French from January to March 1947, a year before “Waiting for Godot.” While “Waiting for Godot” became one of the most famous works of international drama, “Freedom” remained unperformed and unpublished for more than forty years, due to Beckett’s persistent refusal.

The reasons that led him to this decision are unknown. Perhaps because he felt that “Freedom” did not align with the compression and stripping down he sought for his theater: it was multi-character, with intricate stage action, narrative, and explanatory elements.

Maybe, he also recognized in it the flaws of his early work, as it was his first complete theatrical piece and his first attempt at writing in French, since his previous play, “Human Wishes” (1936), written in English, was unfinished.

Whatever Beckett’s reservations were, and despite its imperfections, the work...