Everyman Theatre: The Lion In Winter

A classic of American Theater that I had never seen before; not the play, not the movie.  I had basic idea that it was set in the later half of the 12th century at Christmas Tide and involved the familial intrigues of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.  If you, like me, only knew this much about it (or perhaps even less), allow a brief synopsis.  It's Christmas 1183 and you've got your wife, the Queen, locked up in a prison in France because she tried to kill you.  Being the holidays, you grant her a limited clemency for a little family reunion with you, the King, and your three sons.  You each have your favorite, with one left over for extra measure.  They all want to be king--but only one can be.  You (the King) also keep chambers with the Princess of France who is actually betrothed to one of your sons, but not the one you want her to marry.  Her brother, the new King of France is dropping in to either attend her royal wedding or take her back to Paris.  What on earth could go wrong?  

The writing is truly exceptional; a veritable cornucopia of zingers and witty repartee.  The relationships weave a fine tapestry of love and hate.  This is juicy stuff for any ensemble of actors.  As each enters into the fray, they find their groove at different places making for a choppy start to things.  However, the unflinching anchor is Deborah Hazlett at Queen Eleanor.  She entered with the baton firmly in her grip and never dropped.  Once he found his rhythm, Jefferson A. Russell was a fine, at times commanding, King Henry.  Two other members of the cast worth elevating are Zach Powell and Ryan Dalusung.  Zach took on the role of the middle son, Geoffrey--that one that neither parent saw as king material.  Thus, he was left to plot and scheme and move from one dubious alliance to another.  He shone, quick witted and every bit the incarnation of Machiavelli's Prince.  Ryan had the role of Philip, the 17-year-old King of France.  From the moment he walked on stage, he offered us a king with quirks.  As the play progress, it went from maybe odd, to oddly perfect.  As I member of the audience I went from dismissing his performance to embracing it with some delight.

One of the things that I have come to appreciate about Everyman Theatre is their ability to execute an amazing set, and this one absolutely epitomized this.  Beautifully crafted is are a round room that held as many secrets as there were need of rooms.  With the drop of a tapestry, and the entrance of a poster bed and other furnishings we were in Philips night chamber, other panels open, the bed retreats and from the other side a fireplace with a glowing fire appears and we are in Henry's.  In a final switch a set of stairs leading to a second level is revealed and kegs of wine stacked on racks fill in this side and that where we now find the three princes imprisoned in the cellar awaiting their execution.  As the final transformation, I suddenly thought of the entire space as a giant barrel--a barrel full of "monkeys" as the old adage goes.

Everything about this production is designed to delight and it does.

The entire cast in that gorgeous set.  L-R: Grant Emerson Harvey (Prince Richard), Hannah Kelly (Princess Alais of France), Deborah Hazlett (Queen Eleanor), Jefferson A. Russell (King Henry II), Ben Ribler (Prince John), Ryan Dalusung (King Philip of France), and Zach Powell (Prince Geoffrey)

Queen Eleanor

Queen Eleanor, Alais and King Henry II

King Philip of France, Prince John and Prince Geoffrey

King Henry II and Queen Eleanor