Review: ‘The Lion in Winter’ delivers an ingenious plot

Five of the seven actors make their Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey debut in the royal drama

BY STUART DUNCAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

N.J. THEATER REVIEW

When "The Lion in Winter" opened on Broadway in March of 1966, it won mountains of critical approval, several Tony Award nominations, including a statuette for Rosemary Harris, but the public was not impressed and the show soon folded.

The ingenious plot covers a Christmas season in 1183 with Henry II, King of England, battling verbally with his imprisoned Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, as to which of his three sons should take throne after his death. She prefers Richard; he favors John and neither have much use for Geoffrey. For their part, each of the sons lacks important qualities that might suggest a crown. Geoffrey seems a natural second, always scheming, but never a leader. Richard is very brave, perhaps even a fierce fighter, but exhibits effeminate tendencies. John is a complete mess, socially and physically. The play, documented by historical fact, nevertheless is a fantasy — there never was such a Christmas court, and while indeed Henry had a young mistress, and there was indeed a French King, Philip, her brother, and indeed the outcome of the relationships are true enough, the actual days of the play are fictitious.

The original program to the New York production contains this interesting note: there were no laws of primogeniture in Henry's time. When Kings died, there was open season on the English throne, a fact that was responsible for much that Henry did."

And in this bristling production — in two hours and seventeen minutes — we learn much about what he did, and what was said. The evening is sharply crisp and clean. Director Paul Mullins has all seven actors, not only at full power, but beautifully balanced and on the same page, absolutely essential for this work to succeed at its most dramatic, If any single character is somehow permitted to "steal" a scene, the entire work sags perceptibly. Here, every word slashes, every scene cuts to the quick. When Henry notes early in the evening: "It's the Christmas season, shall we hang the holly --- or each other," there is a nervous laughter from a knowing audience that realizes it is no idle threat.

The veteran Sherman Howard plays Henry like the proverbial lion, and is evenly matched by Lisa Harrow as Eleanor. Colby Chambers, Devin Norik and Tom Pelphrey play the sons, John, Geoffrey and Richard respectively, each a study in ambition and frustration. Laura Campbell is a sweet Alais, barely out of her childhood and not entirely comprehending the games being so diligently played. Sean Hudock plays Philip, the French King as if slightly unfamiliar with the language and it is most effective. A cast in complete control as clearly director Mullins intends.

What makes the production that much more exciting is that five of the seven actors are making debuts in Madison. For a theater that offers such warm welcomes to past performers, it must have been something of a risk. And how exciting for the future.

"The Lion in Winter" continues at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey through Nov. 14. The theater is on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Ave. in Madison. (973) 408-5600.