The Lion in Winter
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The Lion in Winter is a 1966 Broadway play by James Goldman, who also cinematically adapted it in 1968 for the film directed by Anthony Harvey and a 2003 film by Andrei Konchalovsky.
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[edit] Production history
[edit] Original Broadway production
The play's premier was in the Ambassador Theatre, New York City on 3 March 1966, directed by Noel Willman featuring Rosemary Harris as Queen Eleanor and Robert Preston as King Henry II, and Christopher Walken as King Philip of France. The production was nominated for two Tony Awards and Rosemary Harris was awarded the Best Actress prize. It had a run of 92 performances.
[edit] Revival
The play was revived in March, 1999, at the Criterion Center Stage Right, with Stockard Channing as Queen Eleanor and Laurence Fishburne as King Henry II, in directed by Michael Mayer. Channing was nominated for a best actress Tony prize, and the production ran for 93 performances.
[edit] Film adaptations
- Main article, see The Lion in Winter (1968 film)
- A film version was made in 1968 with Peter O'Toole as King Henry II of England and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The film was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Peter O'Toole), Best Director (Anthony Harvey), and Best Costume Design. The film won three Academy Awards: Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn), Best Screenplay (James Goldman), and Best Score (John Barry).
- Main article, see The Lion in Winter (2003 film)
- Another film version was made for television in 2003 with Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart and directed by Andrei Konchalovsky.
[edit] Synopsis
The Lion in Winter occurs during Christmas 1183 at Henry Plantagenet's château and primary residence in Chinon, Anjou, within the Angevin Empire of medieval France. The play opens with the arrival of his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine from prison; the story immediately centres on the personality conflicts and shifting alliances among the estranged couple and their adult sons and heirs to the throne: Prince Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199, the future King Richard I of England 1189-1199), Prince Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany (1158-1186), and Prince John (1166-1216, the future King John of England 1199-1216).
Also in the château, pursuing their own intrigues with the royal family are King Philip II of France, the son of Eleanor's ex-husband, and Philip II's half-sister Alais, a daughter of Louis VII. Alais was betrothed to Richard I, but is Henry II's mistress; in reality, Henry had many mistresses and bastards. The "Rosamund" mentioned in the film was Henry II's mistress until she died.
The Lion in Winter is fictional: there was no Christmas Court at Chinon in 1183; there was a Christmas court at Caen in 1182; none of the dialogue and action is historic, though the outcomes of the characters and the background are historically accurate. The article on the Revolt of 1173-1174 describes the historical events leading to the play's events.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Henry II, King of England
(Male, 50+) In his time, men either were old or dead, yet Henry is still very nearly as he ever was.
[edit] Queen Eleanor
(Female, 60+) Eleanor is the wife of Henry and a handsome woman of great temperament, authority and presence. She has been a queen for nearly 46 years and while possessing feminine qualities, she is thoroughly capable of holding her own in a man's world.
[edit] John
(Male, Late Teens) He is the youngest son of Henry and Eleanor and charming with a sweet face and boyish outlook on his position.
[edit] Geoffrey
(Male, Mid 20's) He is the son of Henry and Eleanor and a man of energy and action. He is attractive, charming and the "brain" of the family.
[edit] Richard Lionheart
(Male, Mid 20's) Currently the eldest son of Henry and Eleanor, he is handsome, graceful and impressive. He has been a famous soldier since his middle teens. War is his profession and he is good at it.
[edit] Alais Capet
(Female, Early 20's) She is serenely beautiful and in love with Henry. Everyone underestimates her intellect and power.
[edit] Philip Capet, King of France
(Male, Early 20's) He has been King of France for three years. His manner is open, direct and simple. He is impressive and handsome without being pretty.
