Every family has its issues. Whether it is parenting, money, or personality clashes, the world is filled with family drama. However, one family has always appeared to be held to a higher standard, the Royal Family. In the Toledo Village Players’ season opener, The Lion in Winter, the audience discovers that even royalty has its ups and downs.
Family drama
The play, though described as a comedy, is filled with dramatic action, which is only expected when the plot is summarized as having dungeons, sibling rivalry, and adultery. Taking place in 1183, the show follows the royal Plantagenet family, who are in competition with one another for the kingdom.
The Lion in Winter opens with Eleanor of Aquitaine (played by Barbara Barkan), wife and prisoner of King Henry II (played by Heath Huber), arriving at the castle for the Christmas holiday. With the family gathering for the holidays, the obvious conversation of who will inherit the throne becomes the big debate. With three possible choices; sons Richard (Matthew Gretzinger), Geoffrey (Greg Kissner), and John (Cameron Lightfoot), and the family tension to be expected from such a decision, there naturally is drama. As Henry cleverly states, “Well— what shall we hang? The holly or each other?”, it becomes obvious the decision of inheritance will not be easily made.
Also starring in this production are Alison Koch, as Henry’s mistress Alais, and Jon Masters as King Philip II. Director, Kate Argow, stated, “It is a joy to work with such a talented cast and crew”.
A lesson in history
The Lion in Winter, written by James Goldman, made its Broadway debut at the NYC Ambassador Theatre on March 2, 1966, with cast members including Rosemary Harris, Robert Preston, and Christopher Walken. Though the production only ran a couple months, the play found success with a Tony Award for Harris, and a film adaptation starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn.
Naturally, since the play focuses on characters that are figures of history, an obvious question is whether the play is factual and based on real events. Goldman did his research when it came to writing this play by studying the family’s history and the real life drama of the fight for the throne. Although the play is historical, it is still a work of fiction with pieces of history added in. As Goldman has stated, “The truth of things is always underneath. It has to be imagined.”
The Lion in Winter will open the new season at the Village Players. The season also includes the suspenseful The Birds, the dramedy Circle, Mirror, Transformation, the classic Steel Magnolias, and the musical comedy Tomfoolery. Season tickets for all five shows are available.
8pm Fridays & Saturdays, September 11-26 and Thursday, September 24, also 2pm Sunday, September 20. $18.
The Village Players, 2740 Upton Ave.
419-472-6817. thevillageplayers.org
