Eugene Ionesco's Exit the King, beautifully directed by Neil Armfield, is a vivid example of "Theater of the Absurd." This production is absurd from start to finish in all aspects: set and costumes by Dale Ferguson, lighting by Damien Cooper, soundscape by Russell Goldsmith, action by the splendid cast.
Geoffrey Rush gives a tour-de-force turn as the king, with great physical schtick and presence that fills the theater. You can't compete with a tornado, so the strong, statuesque Susan Sarandon stays cool, firm, and in that way is indeed a foil for him. While Lauren Ambrose and the rest of the cast are excellent, it is Andrea Martin, whose every word and action is the embodiment of Absurd, who almost steals the show. The play itself is interesting - the last ninety minutes of an incompetent ruler, and the absurdist style gives it highlights, tangents and surprises beyond the ordinary. Armfield and Rush did the adaptation, and it's super.
