The Lion in Winter by James Goldman
Directed by Stephen Cox
Christmas with the Plantagenets: the premier dysfunctional family of 12th century Europe. King Henry II of England lets his Queen wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, out of prison (she led one too many nearly successful revolts against him) for a two-day Christmas court of merriment, politics and infighting at Chinon, France in 1183. They are joined by their three sons (and aspiring heirs): Richard Lionheart, Geoffrey (Count of Brittany), and John the pimple. Also in attendance are Alais Capet (both the fiancée of the as-yet-to-be-determined heir, and Henry’s current mistress) and her younger brother Philip, the new King of France, who wants her wedding performed, or her dowry back.
Performances:
August 21 – Sept 5
Additional September performance dates are being considered
Auditions:
7pm, Monday & Tuesday, June 1 & 2
Greenbelt Community Center, room 114
(Possible call-backs Thursday, June 4)
Auditions consist of cold readings from the script.
Rehearsals will be 3 nights a week (Mon – Thur) from June 8 – Aug 13
Tech week: August 15 – 20
Casting speaking roles for 7 actors (5 men & 2 women as specified in the script). All
roles are open to adult actors of any gender, age or ethnicity (though characters will be
portrayed as the gender specified by the text).
Also non-speaking parts with business for 3-4 attendants to Henry, Eleanor
and Philip. These will also serve as stage crew for set changes.
Speaking roles:
Henry: Male, 50 in the script. King of England. Has been fighting and winning for 30-some years. Still vigorous, but now concerned with passing on the empire he has built intact to an heir of his choice. Convincingly says he loves Alais, but his central passion often seems to be his love-hate relationship with Eleanor.
Eleanor: Female, 61 but looks younger according to stage directions in script. Wealthiest, most powerful woman in Europe. Former Queen of France, but not Philip’s
mother (divorced Philip’s father when she met Henry). Was considered one of the most
beautiful women in Europe at the time. Loved Henry passionately, when wed; now has
an equally passionate love-hate relationship with him.
Richard: Male, 26 in the script. Eleanor’s favorite. Warrior; loves war and slaughter. Also loves men sexually.
Geoffrey: Male, 25 in the script. Brainiest of the bunch. Often seems to have the least human emotion, but has major issues with being the “over-looked” son.
John: Male, 15 in the script, to be portrayed by an adult over 18. Henry’s favorite (and knows it). The most unpleasant son. Bad hygiene, pimply, possible glutton, coward, and ready to force himself on anything in a skirt. In the future will become the infamously worst king in English history (see Shakespeare’s King John).
Alais: Female, 23 in the script. Sister of King Philip of France, and ostensibly betrothed to Richard, but also Henry’s current mistress. Loves Henry, but has few illusions about her position as political (and emotional) pawn. Has lived with, and essentially raised by Henry & Eleanor since her betrothal to Richard when she was 13. Her dowry is the strategically important French province of the Vexin.
Philip: Male, 17 in the script, to be portrayed by an adult over 18. Has been King of France for 3 years. As clever, ambitious, subtle and manipulative as all the Plantagenets, but less experienced. Old “friend” of Richard’s.
Non-speaking roles:
William Marshal (Historical figure): Henry’s right-hand man. Greatest knight of the
age.
Marie (fictional): Eleanor’s maid. Constantly avoiding John’s advances.
Jacques (fictional): Philip’s Captain of the Guard.
Maybe one other role
The Rude Mechanicals 