Theatreworks New Milford Opens EXIT THE KING, 9/17

On Friday, September 17, TheatreWorks New Milford will present the classic absurdist comedy of death, EXIT THE KING, by Eugene Ionesco. The show is scheduled for a four-week run.

Nominated for four Tony Awards for its 2009 revival, EXIT THE KING is an insightful tale of ego and mortality. King Berenger's kingdom is crumbling around him. Once, he ruled over an immense empire and commanded great armies, but now his kingdom has shrunk to the confines of his garden wall - even the royal washing machine has to be pawned. To make matters worse, His Majesty quickly learns that he will "die at the end of the play." Refusing to accept his end, he is attended by his present and former Queens who must help him face the final inevitable truth of life.

"Only Ionesco could have made death so funny," said director Jane Farnol of Gaylorsdsville. "Fortunately, in addition to a hilarious, bizarre, and thought-provoking script, we have such a talented cast of actors to breathe life into this production. Some people feel intimidated by Theatre of the Absurd, but there's no reason to in this case. They'll soon forget about the concept because they'll be laughing so hard."

"Theatre of the Absurd" refers to a style of work expressing themes of human existence in a world without meaning or purpose, written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1940s, '50s, and '60s, including Ionesco, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, and Edward Albee.

"I think audiences will find the show to be a very funny and engrossing morality tale about those who have overstayed their welcome," said producer Glenn R. Couture of Ansonia. "It funny how some people will struggle to the very end to deny what is right in front of them. Not only does the play evoke laughter, but it provokes discussion...it's both introspective and amusing at the same time."

EXIT THE KING premiered in 1962, was filmed for television in 1978 and again in 2006, and recently ran on Broadway in 2009, starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon. The play was nominated for four Tony Awards including a win for Geoffrey Rush as Best Actor. USA Today said EXIT THE KING "will offer a welcome respite from real-life woes; others may find its tale topical, even cautionary...Ionesco's account of a ruler who squanders his time is well worth yours."

The production, directed by Jane Farnol (Gaylordsville), features some of the region's finest actors: Mark Feltch (Newtown), Jude Callirgos Robinson (Redding), Susan Abrams (Warren), Kyle Minor (Danbury), Paula Anderson (New Fairfield), John Fabiani (Watertown), John Bolster (New Milford), and Ken Greiter (New Milford).

The crew includes producer and set designer Glenn R. Couture (Ansonia), technical director Scott Wyshynski (Washington), and stage manager Sonnie Osborne (New Milford).

EXIT THE KING runs September 17, 18, 24, 25, October 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with a 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinee on October 3. Tickets for all shows are $20 for reserved seating.

On Thursday, September 16, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 23 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks' Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, local theatre company located at 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, CT.

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