THE LION IN WINTER
by James Goldman

January 31, February 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 2003

SYNOPSIS: The year is 1183. Like many a modern-day politician, Britain's King Henry II finds it occasionally useful to take his wife out of mothballs and parade her before the public. Henry's Queen Eleanor, long exiled to a faraway castle, is "invited" to join Henry and their three sons for a family reunion. In this way, Henry hopes to maintain a stronghold on his Empire and to prevent the balance of power from shifting to Eleanor or to one of his sons: Richard the Lion-Hearted, Prince Geoffrey, or Prince John. Also on hand for the get-together is Henry's mistress Princess Alais -- who covets the King's influence -- and the Princess' brother, King Philip of France. Despite Henry's efforts to keep his wife and offspring at arms' length (and away from the throne), Eleanor successfully reunites the brood, assuring that her power will not only be restored, but will last long after her death.

Barbed tongues wound to the quick in this play about England's King Henry II (1133-1189) and his dysfunctional family. As ruler of a vast Anglo-Norman kingdom, the 50-year-old monarch holds sway over all that he sees except his wife and three sons. At Christmas, the family gathers in Chinon, France, as Henry considers who will inherit the crown. He favors John. His estranged wife and queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine , favors Richard. His third son, Geoffrey, bitter that no one has championed his cause, schemes for the leavings of power. And then Henry fires the first salvo of the verbal war: "What should we hang, the holly or each other?"

CAST LIST
Henry II, King of England - Alan Harrel
Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry's wife - Ann Nicholas
Richard Coeur de Lion, eldest son - Lorne Book
Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, middle son - Josh Ellis
John Lackland, youngest son - Lin Poff
Philip II, King of France - Clint Hanna
Alais Capet, a French princess - Corrine Book

PRODUCTION STAFF
Director - Michael Cooper
Set Design - Trent Hanna
Costumes - Julie McBay
Properties - Sally Van de Pas, Sara Patterson & Trysta Walker
Stage Manager - Pat Harris
Hair/Makeup - Michelle Robinson
Lights/Sound - Shanari Goolsby, Bill Cozart, Frank Poff
Producer - Micah McBay