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Alexandria Hunter

THTR 390

Laurel Peterson

1 November 2020

Final Concept and Research for Exit the King

Exit the King​ explores the thoughts, feelings, and fears that all self-aware beings

experience at the end of their time. Lonesco’s purpose in writing this play was to emphasize the

existential nature of humans and our inability to escape our own end. I believe the absurdist

element to this piece was very intentional; humor is widely known, and used, as a coping

mechanism. There is no better way to deal with your inevitable death than to laugh about it!

Lonesco had a severe illness when writing this play, and he struggled to accept his own

imminent death. He wanted to teach his audience how to die, something he was experiencing as

he wrote the play. I think Lonesco uses the character of the King to illustrate the internal

thoughts that go through the human mind as we prepare ourselves for death, and uses the other

characters to represent the things we can’t take with us after we die.

Although the play was written in 1962, since the play references a King, Queens and a

Guard, I think the play should be set in medieval times. This time period would also make the

most sense for the audience, since the play is already absurdist and hard to decipher at times. I

think if the play were to be in another time period the connection may be lost to the audience,

since Kings and Queens are usually related to medieval times. At the end of the play the King

expresses all of the things in life he once loved, he reminisces his fondest memories, and he

pleads for more time to correct his mistakes, only to end up alone before he dies. I want the
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costumes to reflect all of the things the King can’t take with him after he dies. I think this

concept is especially relevant considering all of the character’s except for the King vanish from

him, like the things he can’t take to his grave, before he dies. These things may include: love,

possessions, nature, protection, loyalty, legacy, all things that the King panics over losing during

the play. Each character would represent these things:

I think these ideas will be best expressed through textures and color intensity on each

character's costumes:

1. Marie (love): Her dress will have a slim silhouette, very form-fitting and with a

long train. The dress will have doses of pink in it. Her corset will be lined with

frilly lace on the inside and will have vertical lines on the outside. Her makeup

will accentuate her eyelashes and lips.

2. Marguerite (nature): loose fitting, heavy dress with earthy tones. Deep textures

and a long dress train that looks like ocean waves. Thick wool sleeves and flaps

on the side of her dress, with a high collar.

3. Doctor (possessions): His costume will look like a combination of items,

including his hat and other props. His costume will be bulky with dark colors.

4. Guard (protection): bulky, heavy looking, bright, shiny, silver armor.

5. Juliette (loyalty): Parts of her costume will be identical to the King’s. Gold trim

on her dress, muted colors, and simple textures.

6. King (legacy): His costume will be identical in color to Juliette’s but with a higher

intensity. Gold trim on his cape and royal colors on the entirety of the costume.
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Research Images

Mood

Texture
/Pattern/
Color

Time
period
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King

Marguerite

Marie
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Doctor

Guard

Juliette