The Lion in Winter
by James Goldman
directed by
Rick Bernstein
Jan. 4 - Feb. 16 2008

The Lion in Winter
by James Goldman
directed by Rick Bernstein
Held over to Feb. 16th

King Henry II of England has three sons by Eleanor of Aquitaine: Richard Geoffrey and John. He wants the kingdom to stay united after his death, but all three sons want to rule and it is likely to be torn apart by revolution. Henry favors the youngest son while Eleanor favors the eldest. The middle son hopes to play both ends against each other and come out on top. Henry would like to have another heir by his mistress, but that would only add to the contenders. Uneasy is the head on which the crown lies, and uneasy the truce between a matchless king and queen. This mundane history is glorified in language that is brilliant in its ability to characterize, its rhetorical impact, its actability, and its generative power. Few since Shakespeare have had such a marvelous gift for truly comic repartee.

"There's plenty of court intrigue in The Lion in Winter, but what really shines in (this) production is the sparkling banter that races across the stage... a polished, zippy production "
Lisa Bornstein, The Rocky Mountain News"

"an ideal offering for the intimate Victorian... the Vic's audiences are plainly loving Bernstein's devil-may-care approach... grand and well-played storytelling"
John Moore, The Denver Post

"The Lion in Winter is a masterpiece...the dialogue is fresh, the action visceral, and there’s a surprising amount of humor..."
Patrick Dorn, The Troupe

"This is the most thrillingly satisfying production of this play in aeons... A riveting and exhilarating evening of theatre... This show is a knock-out!"
David Marlowe, Out Front Colorado