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
- Book
- James Goldman
- 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
The Lion in Winter premiered on Broadway in 1966, and has been revived multiple times on Broadway and in the West End. Two years after its premiere, a film based on the play (written again by James Goldman) was produced starring Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn. The movie received several Academy Award nominations, with Katherine Hepburn winning for Best Actress for her portrayal as Eleanor in a tie with Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl—the only time there has ever been a tie in the Best
to read the context for The Lion in Winter and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Scene 1
With Christmas fast approaching in the winter of 1183, King Henry II is planning festivities in his castle in Chinon. The young, newly crowned French King, Philip, will be attending to discuss a treaty in England. Also called to attend will be Henry’s three sons-- Richard, Geoffrey, and John-- and his estranged wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Eleanor had been under house arrest for attempting to overthrow Henry’s throne (with her sons’ help).
In the midst of the
to read the plot for The Lion in Winter and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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