Exit the King First Preview...

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 1:12am

My TDF seat was near the front of the rear mezz Switched over to a box at intermission with a few other TDF-ers, view from there was wonderful, since this is one of those rare productions without projections or overly complicated scenery...a few feet behind me, the director, Neil Armfield, was taking notes.

Geoffrey Rush was absolutely amazing. The things he does with his body and his face as the king who contemplates his own death are incredible, he'll be at least Tony-nominated if he doesn't actually win. I thought the rest of the cast was fine; Andrea Martin was especially funny in her part as the palace maid.

The play itself will not be for everyone. Very existential, absurdist, and the three audience members around me were really disappointed, even as most of the orchestra rose for a standing ovation. It's not my favorite kind of play because it doesn't move me at my core, but I still appreciated it for what it was...and especially for Geoffrey Rush. I told Armfield it was one of the most flawless first previews I'd ever seen, and meant it. He said that they were a little concerned on how it would play in a bigger theater, as the one in Australia where they'd just done it only seated 300. I don't think that's a problem here; there's a point in the play where Rush goes all through the orchestra and really pulls people in.

The stage door was a lot of fun. Tim Robbins was there with Sarandon looking happy and proud; she said she was relieved to have gotten through it and signed and took photos for everyone. Andrea and Lauren Ambrose were sweet, and Rush took his time greeting everyone and even introduced Armfield to the crowd.

A note on the student rush, which I asked about: they told me that students who show up at 10 or whenever the box office opens on a performance day will get front-row tickets; the ones who come at 6 pm will get whatever's left. Front row in the Barrymore is a nice deal, stage is not at all high, so that'd be a sweet deal.

All in all, a satisfying evening...not my favorite play, but worth it for Rush's performance; would love to know what everyone else thinks!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 3:18am

Thanks for posting a review. Sounds like Rush is wonderful.
Can you go more in detail about Susan Sarandon and Lauren Ambrose?

Updated On: 3/8/09 at 03:18 AM

[willep]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 3:18am

Thanks for the review! I really hope to get to see this...I think I am going to have to try that student rush deal...front row would be amazing!

Thanks again for the info/review!

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 5:16am

There are a couple of raves for Rush on the ATC board, echoing your report. Thanks for the insight.

[adrian55]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 12:20pm

What was the running time? Is there an intermission?

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 11:29pm

It ran about two-and-a-half hours and there's an intermission...as far as Ambrose and Sarandon, because I'm so unfamiliar with this kind of absurdist theater, I have a hard time gauging their performances. Ambrose is called for to be almost hysterical much of the time, Sarandon grim and firm. For me, at least, they were fine...but more of my attention was focused on the kind of theater this is, and what they were trying to say...

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/8/09 at 11:43pm

I saw it this afternoon and loved it.

As people have mentioned Geoffrey Rush is giving an incredible performance. He completely embodies the character of King Berenger and I couldn't keep my eyes off him when he was on stage. Every line reading, facial expression, and even every step he took on stage was completely in character. A definite Tony nominee.

Susan Sarandon was wonderful as Queen Marguerite. Her final monologue was especially good. Her character was very bitchy and curt towards Rush, and she did it well (maybe bitchy is the wrong word...she was just dominating and ordered him around and was very stern...sorry can't find the right word for it). Lauren Ambrose was great as Queen Marie...she did everything she could to prevent Rush from thinking about his impending death, and was very believeable. I love Andrea Martin, and she was very funny in her role as Juliette...I laughed out loud quite often while she was on stage.

I also have to give credit to the director. This show was so well done, with the live trumpet players, and I was never bored. The sets were totally appropriate and the lighting was tastefully done. I also loved the makeup on the actors, which looked great (especially on Rush and The Doctor).

I urge people to go see this with an open mind. The performances are great, and I hope the critics like it. Congrats to all involved.
Updated On: 3/8/09 at 11:43 PM

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 12:08am

I agree with WOT about keeping an open mind. I was pretty horrified my the woman next to me who claimed to be insulted and wanted her money back, while Rush and the others were acting their hearts out. It continually amazes me that so many people see the names in a show and put down a lot of money for tickets, without even trying to find out WHAT they'll be seeing...you can google and read the reviews of this production since it was JUST performed in Australia and decide for yourself whether or not it's your cup of tea. The only times when I have no idea what I'm getting into are with world premieres like Impressionism; with most productions, a little research can go a long way...

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 10:39am

I saw this yesterday afternoon and was totally taken aback and surprised at how much I liked it. It really says something to me when I go into a show with a fairly negative attitude and walk out singing its praises.

I think the combination of wonderful acting and directing have turned what could be a painful day at the theater into a joyful experience. I can't say enough wonderful things about Geoffrey Rush. I know there are still many plays to open this season, but so far I would give Rush the Tony hands down. What he did in the Barrymore yesterday was an utter master class in acting.

Rush gives over every tendon in his body to the role. My favorite physical part of the production came at the beginning of the second act where there is a minute of choreography/staged movement that he executes to perfection. I was just mesmerized watching him on stage and I urge everyone on this board to go see this if only to see his performance.

Saradon's role is not nearly as showy, but she is able to elicit laughter where a less gifted actress would fail. Lauren Ambrose is good as the other queen, and Andrea Martin steals many moments with sight gags and other physical humor.

Neil Armfield should get a nomination for direction of a play for making this work so enjoyable and accesible. The set and costumes were AWESOME!!! I loved the trains for the two queens, and as WAT mentioned the make up is incredible.

If you are on the fence about going to this, don't be. This was up there with The Seagull and Dividing the Estate as one of the best plays of the season. I hope that it does will with critics and sells well the rest of the limited run.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 11:54am

Completely agree with the praise. Such an incredibly fun play (as silly as it is, there's unexpected poignance too), and Rush gives a genuinely brilliant performance. I'm so glad I saw this, one of of my favorite things of the season, but would be remiss if I left out three slightly negative notes:

-- the second act drags A LOT. Still well done, and it completely works overall, but it knocked this down from a production I LOVED to 'really liked.'

-- Sarandon is quite good, but I think fans of hers, or people going chiefly due to her, might be disappointed with her role. While she's on stage the entire time (all five characters don't really ever leave the stage), there's not much to her character, and besides a nice monologue towards the end, she doesn't get much to do besides sit on stage and glare.

-- Nothing to do with the production, but Lauren Ambrose was an absolute C**t at the stage door. I totally get that actors aren't obligated to come out the stage door, nor sign autographs, let alone be friendly -- we have no right to feel entitled to such things, they're there to give a performance -- BUT I was actually taken aback by how she acted to the few people who she signed for. Someone said something along the lines of "Thank you, you were so great" (or some similarly inane, cliched stagedoor comment), and she just looked up, blankly stared at them and didn't say anything. She just looked very upset to be having to do this. Sorry to rant, but this sort of thing always bugs me -- you have one of the few professions where you can make someone happy by signing your name, it just doesn't seem necessary to be nasty.

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 1:42pm

Miracle: Seriously?? You're going to use the C-word on Lauren Ambrose because she's uncomfortable signing autographs? After Exit the King on Saturday night, she was in no way rude, and appeared to me to be a lovely young actress who is uneasy about being in the public eye.

Man, I wish I could say I've never used that word ever in my life--or been called it--but if you think she merits it for shy stage-door behavior, then you need some perspective, or maybe a vocab overhaul. Jeez, she could have social anxiety for all we know...but I were her and read your post, I'd start leaving through the back door, because that's ugly stuff!

[broadway86]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 1:55pm

Saw it yesterday as well, and loved it.

Sat in front row center, and was in complete and utter awe of Geoffrey Rush's performance. It's one of the greatest I've ever seen onstage. Sarandon is hilarious, but though she is billed above the title, it is totally a supporting role. Her monologue near the end was bewitching.

Lauren Ambrose, Brian Hutchison, and especially Andrea Martin were also great, and I have to commend them for being so brave and commited to their choices, despite it being only the second or third preview. I'm VERY surprised that no one has mentioned William Sadler, who was fabulous and memorable as The Doctor.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 2:00pm

April Saul ... I couldn't agree with you more! Miracle, you sound like a real a-hole with your comments about Ambrose. You even said she did sign for some people ... and you still have the audacity to call her the C word???? She (nor any actor) doesn't have to sign, doesn't have to leave by a "secret exit" to avoid autograph mongors and doesn't owe the audience anything more than a good performance. You have no idea what was going on in her mind. It was the first preview ... for all any of us know, she could have been unhappy with her own performance and therefore didn't react to the "you were great" comments. It just absolutely blows my mind at the sense of entitlement so many people have regarding stage door experiences. Sign for ME, sign for ME, and if you don't, or even if you do but aren't doing it with joy and happiness that I expect of you, you're a #@$%.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 2:26pm

Broadway86- You are correct. William Sadler needs mention as the doctor, as he was wonderful! Another one who could have let a supporting role slip by unnoticed, especially with all the talent up there on stage. Still he was able to make a nice impression and create depth with his role. I hope the entire cast gets individual praise from the critics.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 3:01pm

Agree about Sadler and Hutchinson being stand-outs in roles that aren't particularly central.

"Seriously?? You're going to use the C-word on Lauren Ambrose because she's uncomfortable signing autographs? After Exit the King on Saturday night, she was in no way rude, and appeared to me to be a lovely young actress who is uneasy about being in the public eye. Man, I wish I could say I've never used that word ever in my life--or been called it--but if you think she merits it for shy stage-door behavior, then you need some perspective, or maybe a vocab overhaul. Jeez, she could have social anxiety for all we know"


I'm sorry, I know when actors display such behavior, their fans bend over backwards to defend them, but this explanation is ridiculous. She's "uncomfortable" signing autographs? I could see being uncomfortable shooting the breeze with random fans, or even taking pictures with them, but what is even potentially discomforting about signing your frickin' name on someone's Playbill?

"Uneasy being in the public eye?" She's been acting in films and television shows for nearly 15 years now, and has to have adapted at least a little bit to being in the public eye -- I hardly think she's still THAT frazzled and gets thrown into a tizzy at someone asking her for her autograph.

"Social anxiety"? Come the f*** on. Have you seen her public appearances, television interviews, etc.? The girl clearly isn't a quirky, socially awkward recluse.

Perhaps the c-word was a little strong, since she only angrily glared and didn't slap anyone or anything, but I think at LEAST 'bitch' is merited.




"She (nor any actor) doesn't have to sign, doesn't have to leave by a "secret exit" to avoid autograph mongors and doesn't owe the audience anything more than a good performance. You have no idea what was going on in her mind. It was the first preview ... for all any of us know, she could have been unhappy with her own performance and therefore didn't react to the "you were great" comments. It just absolutely blows my mind at the sense of entitlement so many people have regarding stage door experiences. Sign for ME, sign for ME, and if you don't, or even if you do but aren't doing it with joy and happiness that I expect of you, you're a #@$%."

Okay, seriously, get over yourself, and stop rambling. I already said I know we're not owed anything other than a performance, and for the record, I would've been fine (though a bit prickly) if she refused to sign. What I took issue with was how much of an inconvenience she conveyed it to be, and her nasty demeanor and staring people in the face blankly and not saying anything when they complimented her performance. I know you may idolize any and all actors, and they can do no wrong in your eyes, but for me when someone's nasty, it's just not acceptable, regardless of whether they're famous or not, and whether they're doing it while signing autographs or while waiting in line at the grocery store.

[butterflyblob]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 4:47pm

Thanks to everyone who posted a review! I just snagged a TDF ticket for tomorrow night. I love Ionesco's "The Lesson" and this has such a great cast.

[Lamc16]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 4:51pm

I can't wait to see this. very excited!

[wonkit]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 5:32pm

OK - Miracle this is not aimed at you but I just want to say that someone who is exhausted and preoccupied is not being "nasty." If she had hollered and pushed and acted entitled, that is a disappointing show of diva-dom. But she may just have finished rehearsal, performance, notes and self-reproach - so please just cut the lady some slack. Early previews and opening night are hardly a relaxed time for performers, even experienced ones.

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 6:11pm

Lauren Ambrose was the same way at the stage door of Awake and Sing on Broadway three years ago.

I'm seeing Exit the King in April, and am sorry to hear that things haven't changed.

How is William Sadler at the stage door?

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 6:14pm

LOL at this point...Ambrose also signed my Awake and Sing playbill, I did not think she was nasty then either! To answer your question, William Sadler was very nice at the stage door, and chatted amiably with folks.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 3/11/09 at 9:39pm

Just came back from seeing this tonight.

Susan Sarandon is like a black hole, sucking the life out of this production. She delivers every line like Oprah. (LOUD at the beginning, and then dwindling at the end like she's saying something important. She has no idea how to play absurdist comedy. Yes, she's in a supporting role, but she's SUSAN SARANDON, so you can't take your eyes off her, and she's really wooden and amateurish.

Rush and Ambrose were great, as were Martin and the supporting players, but they all know how to play the show. I have no idea what Sarandon was doing on the stage, other than clenching her fists over and over again.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 2:59am

I saw this show tonight (Saturday night) and loved it! At times it was absurdly hilarious and times deeply moving. It's such a nice, simple production.

Rush is freaking brilliant in the role. The play doesn't quite take off until he enters in Act 1, but man does he turn in an amazing performance. For any of you acting students or actors out there, you have to see this show for his performance. He is just so utterly in control of his body and it's amazing to watch. His creativity is inspiring. Watching how he contorts himself and gets himself out of different situations was so hilarious. His makeup was great and the trick with the hair was cool too. His moments at the end of the play were beautifully done. I say give him and Tovah their Tonys now and call it a day.

Sarandon was okay. She wasn't awful as some people have said. The audience loves her, but she doesn't do much with the role. She's just sort of there to me. I'm not sure if it's the way the part is written, or if Sarandon just isn't up for absurdist comedy, but I felt like she needed to up the energy. Everyone else was playing on a different wave length it seemed. That said, the audience laughed at all of her lies, so what do I know?

Andrea Martin was the stand out for me. In the first 10 minutes of the play, I knew she was going to be hilarious. She's just so funny and so quick. I loved her character, and I thought she stole the show - almost.

The rest of the cast is fine. They were all pretty funny in their own right.

The whole production is so interesting. I love the creepy house music when you walk into the theater, and I love all the different scenic elements. I loved that they carried the light-bulbs up into the rear Mezzanine. I loved the live music. And I loved the whole "destruction" of the empire. I hated the costumes though. I hated all the big trains and Sarandon's dress was just so plain and ugly, but that's just me being picky I guess.

***Possible Spoiler?****

What did the "white foam" part mean? Was that to indicate the people who would remember the King? I didn't quite get that part?

***End***


I was surprised by how much the audience reacted. I think most of the audience was into and enjoying it. I was in the Rear Mezz, which was a great seat, and I had some people behind me who were hating it and made it very obvious. During the show the wife kept asking her husband "Do you get it? I don't get it. Maybe it's just like that. Some people get it. I don't get it. It's like Shakespeare to me." And then she kept asking her husband at intermission if he would go see "Shrek" with her on Wednesday. If the show your dying to see is "Shrek: the musical" then I don't think an absurdist comedy is the thing for you. Just a thought.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 3/15/09 at 7:58pm

I loved the play. Rush was absolutely brilliant, and I also thought Ambrose and Martin gave wonderful performances. I did student rush and sat front row center (AA107); it was a perfect seat, despite being subject to Rush's spit.

About Lauren Ambrose: I waited at the stage door this afternoon. She was the last to come out. It was about an hour after the performance ended, and only a few of us had stuck around for her. She could not have been nicer. She said to me, "I'm so sorry you had to wait this long" and was very soft-spoken but kind. I'm sure I said nothing original to her (stuff like "I loved the show, your performance was wonderful, I'm a huge fan of Six Feet Under") and she said thank you a few times and smiled at me. When I asked if I could take a picture with her she replied "Of course," even though she had absolutely no obligation to do so. Maybe she has bad days, or maybe she's intimidated by a huge crowd, but she was very nice to me and no matter how she acted after another performance I do not think name-calling is appropriate.

[genwesclark]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 11:48am

Lauren Ambrose is one of the finest actors of her generation. And also one of the kindest and most sincere.

She never phones in a performance. She never goes through the motions. If you saw her in Romeo & Juliet or Hamlet in the park, you'd know she fully experiences her character's every moment on stage. If she wasn't very talkative at the stage door, it's because she just experienced the death of her lover --- King Berenger. Give her a break. I can only imagine the psychological and physical ramifications of this extreme acting method, but it is one that fuels a mesmerizing performance.

Now if you were truly upset with her demeanor at the stage door, please ask yourself: Do you go to the theater to see moving performances or because you want to chat up some celebrity after the show?

As for Geoffrey Rush, he gave the greatest performance I've ever seen on stage. Hands down. He shows us what may be the pinnacle of acting.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/16/09 at 12:01pm

"As for Geoffrey Rush, he gave the greatest performance I've ever seen on stage. Hands down. He shows us what may be the pinnacle of acting."

It might be the best MALE performance ever...but for the best FEMALE performance ever, go see IRENA'S VOW.