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Overview

Synopsis

Betrayal, treachery, and a knife fight: it’s just another normal Christmas celebration for the royal Plantagenet family of Britain. In The Lion in Winter, King Henry II throws a Christmas feast for the newly crowned King of France. Also in attendance for the holiday celebrations are Henry’s three plotting sons, each eager to take the throne, and Henry’s manipulative wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, newly released from house arrest (after raising an army against Henry). Even though they need to appear a happy family for the King of France, this doesn’t stop each Plantagenet from secretly plotting to take the others down. While the three sons backstab and squabble to take their place in history, Eleanor and Henry use their offspring as pawns against each other in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Told in "marvelously articulate language, with humor that bristles and burns ("Los Angeles Times")”, The Lion in Winter is a play that transcends the historical genre to become a bitingly hilarious family drama.

Show Information

Text And Format
James Goldman
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1966
Genres
Drama, Dark Comedy, Historical/Biographical
Time & Place
christmas 1183, the king’s castle in chinon, france (ruled by britain)
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
high school, university theatre, community theatre, regional theatre, professional theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

King Henry II

Lead

Male

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Lead

Female

Philip Capet

Supporting

Male

Alais Capet

Supporting

Female

Richard

Supporting

Male

John

Supporting

Male

Geoffrey

Supporting

Male

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Key Terms

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Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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