The Freed-Hardeman University Theatre Department will perform Exit the King, an absurdist play by Eugene Ionesco. The drama will be presented in FHU’s Black Box Theatre Thursday, February 25th through Saturday, February 27th at 7 p.m. with an additional 2 o’clock matinee on Saturday. Tickets cost $7 or $1 for FHU students. Senior Theatre Major, Ashley Crawford, is directing the play.
Exit the King originally debuted in 1962 as the third play in Ionesco’s series of four productions called The “Berenger Cycle.” The play focuses on a four-hundred-year-old king who discovers that he is dying. In denial as his kingdom crumbles around him, the king must come to terms with death.
In 2009 the Ionesco classic was performed on Broadway. Directed by Neil Armfield, it featured the talents of Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon among others. Rush received a Tony for his role as King Berenger.
Crawford’s production of Exit the King features six current and past FHU students. Mauricio Campos, Beth Benfield, Hannah Hoyt, Rachel Ryan, Mathew Dalton and Chris LaFever make up the experienced cast.
FHU Director of Theatre, Dr. Cliff Thompson, says that Exit the King “is the first absurdist play at FHU in at least thirteen years.” He and those involved are excited about this production.
Following the Friday night showing, Don Shull, Professor of Language and Literature at FHU, is leading a talk-back session on absurdism.
For more information, visit theatre.fhu.edu or contact Dr. Thompson at 731-989-6780.