Stark raving mad – Swine Palace honors Louisiana with All the Kings Men

Actor Joe Chrest has never seen the Sean Penn-led 2006 adaptation of All the King’s Men, and he doesn’t want to. Audiences may be relieved that the stage and screen veteran, portraying Jack Burden—the novel’s flawed narrator and conflicted associate of the Huey P. Long-esque Gov. Willie Stark—is not basing his latest theatrical performance on the Baton Rouge-set film most critics called a missed opportunity.

The actor believes there are plenty of other reasons Swine Palace’s new production of Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning political drama will resonate with modern audiences.

“The book and this play highlight the fact that there are no absolutes,” Chrest says. “There will always be good and evil, and they have to co-exist. You know all these principles my friends are crying out for on Facebook are things [Long] was providing or fighting for. Of course, my friends would be against his methods.”

Enabling Stark’s ascent is actor Jason Bayle, who joins Chrest in this cast of 30 as the power-hungry Governor’s driver, a stuttering, sweet-toothed devotee known as “Sugar-Boy.”

“Just look at Jindal’s tax proposals,” Bayle says. “That’s in complete contrast to Long’s ‘I’ll take care of the workin’ man,’ approach. All the King’s Men is this great illustration to look at where are and where we’ve been. What’s the balance? How can we all exist together, rich and poor, and help each other?”

Neither actor is a Louisiana native. Bayle, who grew up in Illinois, read Penn’s LSU Press classic in high school. Chrest did not become aware of the work until moving to Baton Rouge in the 1980s to study theatre at the university Warren called home 40 years prior.

“It’s a challenge because this story means so much to the people here,” Chrest says. “Everyone has an opinion on it—strong opinions.”

All The Kings Men runs April 17-May 5 at the Reilly Theatre at LSU. It’s directed by George Judy and features the music of Randy Newman. swinepalace.org