The Lion in Winter
In the historical drama "The Lion in Winter," set on Christmas 1183, the King of England, Henry II, whose first-born legitimate son has passed, announces his plans for a successor. He has three sons and wants his youngest son, John, to take over. However, the King's wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, believes her eldest son, Richard, should be the rightful heir. Meanwhile, the middle son, Geoffrey, feels neglected and seeks to win his parent's love by plotting against them to gain the throne. The manipulative ways of King Henry and Queen Eleanor complicate the family dynamics. Queen Eleanor, bitter toward the King for replacing her with his young betrothed mistress, Alais Capet, persuaded their sons to rebel against their father. For her role in the rebellion, he imprisoned her, allowing the King to mingle with the minds of his sons to get them to obey his desires for his throne. Still, the distress and mistrust of their father's love cause them to seek the aid of his Christmas Court guest, the King of France, Philip Capet, to seize his kingdom. Phillip, who has demanded the King marry off his sister to the heir to the throne as agreed, despises the King, remembering his elitist attitude and the disrespect he showed his father when he was a child. He's coy with the King, reminding him that his days are numbered, and he has no desire to fight against him now, as he has time on his side.
The Lion in Winter portrays a family torn apart by mistrust and a fierce desire for power. Richard, the eldest son, is willing to fight and kill anyone who stands in his way of becoming King. Geoffrey, the middle son, uses his intelligence and cunning to gain an advantage over his brothers. The youngest son, John, is considered weak and spoiled by his mother and brothers, but he is the one chosen by King Henry II to succeed him. However, John needs to be stronger to rule alone, so the King tries to convince Geoffrey to support him. Meanwhile, Alais Capet, who has no power of her own, uses the King's desire for a new heir to her advantage, hoping to become queen and escape the King's wife and sons. Director Ron OJ Parson, who wanted to connect this play with today's society and how families deal with the drama of life summaries, provided a brilliant quote regarding his version of The Lion in Winter. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power." Parson brings together an exceptional cast featuring John Hoogenakker (Henry II), Rebecca Spence (Eleanor of Aquitaine), Anthony Baldasare (Phillip Capet), Kenneth La'Ron Hamilton (John), Shane Kenyon (Richard Lionheart), Brandon Miller (Geoffrey), and making her Court Theatre debut, All American, All American: Homecoming star, Netta Walker.
The actors John Hoogenakker and Rebecca Spence performed excellently in The Lion in Winter. Their characters' manipulative wit and sarcastic bantering were convincing, and they successfully portrayed the complex emotions of their roles. The audience could feel their pain and passion, and it was clear that they were trying to outmaneuver each other cleverly. Kenyon, who is also making his Court debut, provided the grit and power of Richard Lionheart, and Walker did a sterling performance as Henry II's mistress, Alais. The Lion in Winter is a fictionalized interpretation of the conflicts of the English monarchical dynasties—the Plantagenets- as envisioned by playwright James Goldman. The cast uses the entire theater, nicely capturing the characters' flow in the production. The play uses the language of the Anglo-Saxons, used around the period of the play, and its sarcastic wit provides a somewhat confusing humorous side. The play displays the flaws and failings of the main characters, such as anger, depression, isolation, pride, vanity, and fear, which can be related to today's issues. However, the overall pace of the two-act production, which runs for two hours and thirty minutes, may feel more like watching a Shakespearean Greek tragedy soap opera. Despite the splendid performances of the actors, the play never seems to hit its peak or provide a powerful and profound scene. The movie version, which starred O'Toole and Hepburn, received rave reviews, including seven Oscar nominations, winning three. However, the theatrical performances received mixed reviews, and this production could benefit from more life and energy.
The Lion in Winter influenced other works, such as the popular TV show Empire. Lee Daniels also acknowledges that the soap opera Dynasty was a strong influence. It's a testament to the play's lasting impact and its portrayal of family dynamics and power struggles that still resonate with audiences today. The ending remains unresolved despite all the manipulations and schemes. Queen Eleanor's imprisonment, the ongoing fight between the three princes, and King Henry II's indecisiveness on his successor create a stalemate that mirrors the beginning of the play.
3 STARS ***
Court Theatre
The Lion in Winter
By James Goldman
Directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson
November 3 - December 3, 2023
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