West Linn High School Performing Arts Dept.

exit the king

Set and Lighting Design (and Direction) by Jon Ares.

March 2024.

Exit The King by Eugene Ionesco, translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush. Directed by Jon Ares. Costume design by Sarah Gahagan. Sound Design by Steven Beckingham, Grant Hawkins, and Kaiden Christman. Gracie Faust, Production Stage Manager.

From the press release:

Prepare to be swept away by a darkly comedic journey as West Linn High School Theatre Arts presents Eugene Ionesco's iconic absurdist masterpiece, Exit the King. Opening March 1 and running through March 9, 2024, this poignant and hilarious production delves into the human condition and our inevitable confrontation with mortality.

King Berenger, once a powerful ruler, finds his kingdom fading along with his own life force. Confined to his crumbling throne room, he clings desperately to power and refuses to acknowledge his impending demise. Surrounded by his loyal yet exasperated attendants, including his multiple wives and a sardonic doctor, Berenger embarks on a hilarious and heartbreaking struggle to retain control over his dwindling world.

Ionesco's masterpiece, masterfully translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush, uses witty dialogue, nonsensical situations, and theatrical metaphors to create a timeless exploration of power, denial, and the absurdity of existence.

The concept for the set and costumes was creating the image of a decaying royal lifestyle, but not decaying over decades or centuries, but rather a sense that the decay is happening right now, in front of our eyes. Sarah Gahagan’s costumes were absolutely perfect: the threadbare garments, the silhouette, the texture. Aligned with the form and texture of the set, this was a great, holistic production across all departments.