The Wilbury Group is set to kick the new year off with one of its most ambitious productions to date, Eugene Ionesco's poignant comedy-drama, Exit the King, January 5-15, at 95 Empire Street, home of the Perishable Theater. Nominated for four Tony Awards for its 2009 revival, Exit the King serves as a brilliant tale of ego, mortality, and power that's as relevant today as it ever was.
Long considered the greatest work of one of the finest playwrights of the 20th century, Ionesco's play takes us to the crumbling kingdom of King Berenger. Once an empire of enormous power, the kingdom has shrunk to but a few loyal subjects and prized possessions. Adding to the tragedy, the King learns that he will "die at the end of the play." Clinging to the shreds of his power with a mixture of hilarious comedy and tragedy, King Berenger is attended by his present and former Queens who must help him face his inevitable end.
Featuring a dynamic artistic team led by director Rebecca Noon and Jed Hancock-Brainerd starring as the rapidly-aging King Berenger (the minds behind last year's Special Happy and co-founders of Providence based theatre company Strange Attractor), the team makes one of the Wilbury Group's most exciting ensembles to date, including Gloria Crist and Lara Maynard as feuding Queens Marguerite and Marie and comic dynamos Jeff Hodge, Bobby Casey, and Melissa Bowler as the embittered palace staff, this production of Exit the King promises to be exactly what we all need to survive January.
About this Production of Exit the King
By Eugene Ionesco
Directed by Rebecca Noon
Lighting & Set Design by Robert Haflinger
Costume Design by Emma Haney
Sound Design by Cyrus Leddy
CAST
King Berenger I.....Jed Hancock-Brainerd
Queen Marguerite.....Gloria Crist
Queen Marie.....Lara Maynard
Guard.....Jeff Hodge
Doctor.....Bobby Casey
Juliette.....Melissa Bowler
The Wilbury Group presents Exit the King by Eugene Ionesco, Directed by Rebecca Noon, January 5-15 at Perishable Theater, 95 Empire Street, Providence, RI. Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 general, $15 student/seniors, and are available at the door. Sunday afternoons are Pay-What-You-Can. For reservations/more info e-mail Info@TheWilburyGroup.com or visit www.TheWilburyGroup.com.
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