Exit the King gets five stars.

This play has truly impressed the critics and audiences alike. The story unfolds with a captivating plot that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats.

The acting in Exit the King is superb, with each actor bringing their character to life in the most vivid way. The set design and costumes also add to the overall atmosphere of the play, making it a visually stunning experience.

As for the other two plays, I think I need to see them on stage to truly appreciate their merits. It's possible that they have their own unique charm and qualities that can only be fully understood and evaluated through a live performance.

I'm looking forward to the opportunity to watch these plays and see if they can live up to the high standards set by Exit the King.

"Exit the King" is a play that truly rips your heart out and devours it before your very eyes. Death, although always expected, is still surprisingly shocking. As we age, time seems to accelerate. Our bodies begin to break down, refusing to follow our commands. The world, a reflection of our bodies, also crumbles and shrinks, until it's reduced to a fetal position. We are born and we die in this way.

The king's two wives represent different perspectives: the optimistic/idealistic and the pragmatic/rational. They battle for the heart and mind of the dying man, leading him from despair to delusion and back again. Sometimes it's darkly humorous, like when the guard makes ludicrous announcements such as "Long Live the King! The King is Dead!" But perhaps the most terrifying aspect is the loss of agency. The king, and by extension all of us, have no say in our own fates. "You're no longer your own master," says the pragmatic doctor.

In "Exit the King," the titular character's kingdom gradually stops following his commands. This is how it feels for writers and creatives who once had complete control over their own worlds. Any artist can understand this feeling, but the slow loss of it signals the ultimate end. I see a glimmer of this fear in the eyes of the Metallica boys on their last tour. They're pouring out every last drop of sweat and effort to prove they're still the 20-year-olds who wrote genre-defining music. But they know it can't last. Each show, each song, each note must feel like it's on the verge of breaking, like it could be their last.

We all act as if we have unlimited time, but the truth is that life is short. "Kings ought to be immortal," we think, but we know it's not possible. We're afraid to think about death, even those of us who are surrounded by symbols of it. But a little bit of death meditation can go a long way. "All you have now is one hour...A well spent hour's better than whole centuries of neglect and failure," the play reminds us.

As the king nears the end of his life, he becomes increasingly childish, bargaining and begging for a chance to live. He loses his decorum and says hurtful things. Time begins to compress and elongate in strange ways, and he starts to deny the love of his optimistic/idealistic wife. Eventually, he stops recognizing her, and the other characters fade away. But even though he's still alive, they start talking about him in the past tense.

In the end, "Exit the King" is a powerful and cathartic play that explores the themes of death, agency, and the human condition. Although it's often heart-rending and terrifying, it also offers a glimmer of hope. As Socrates said, "There is great reason to hope that death is a good." Ionesco's "Exit the King" is a masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

I read this book, "The Meaning of Death", for my independent study in philosophy during my undergraduate program. This study delved into the many interpretations of death, exploring various perspectives and theories. It was Lud Schlecht who recommended this play for me. His recommendation piqued my interest and led me to explore this fascinating topic further. Through reading this book, I gained a deeper understanding of the complex and often mysterious nature of death. It made me question my own beliefs and attitudes towards it. I found myself reflecting on the meaning and significance of life in the face of death. The different interpretations presented in the book challenged me to think critically and consider alternative viewpoints. Overall, this independent study was a valuable and enriching experience that broadened my intellectual horizons and enhanced my understanding of philosophy.