“The Lion in Winter” @ WSU (Ogden: March 4 - 12)

WHO: Weber State University Department of Performing Arts
WHAT: “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, directed by Tracy Callahan
WHERE: Eccles Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
WHEN: March 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 pm • March 12 at 2 pm
American Sign Language interpretation provided March 5th.

Weber State University Department of Performing Arts presents “The Lion in Winter,” by James Goldman, directed by Tracy Callahan, March 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 pm with a matinee on March 12 at 2 pm, in the Eccles Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for the March 5th performance. Tickets are $10/$7 through Dee Events Center Tickets, 1-800-WSU-TIKS or weberstatetickets.com.

At a fictional Christmas 1183 meeting, Henry II of England welcomes his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to his château in Chinon, Anjou, Angevin Empire. Henry has had her imprisoned for more than 10 years but periodically releases her for visits like these when it amuses him to do so. The gamesmanship between Henry, Eleanor, and their sons Richard, Geoffrey, and John is complicated by their guest, Philip II of France (the son of Eleanor's ex-husband, Louis VII of France), and Philip's half-sister, Alais, who has been at court since she was betrothed to Richard at age 8. Alais, as a young adult, is now Henry's mistress. Lives and kingdoms are at stake in this dangerous and sometimes humourous play for power. While none of the dialogue and actions are historical, the outcomes and the events leading up to the story are accurate.

Director Tracy Callahan says, “The play explores themes of dysfunctional family, political maneuvering, war and peace, as well as aging, death, inheritance and posterity. As the principle characters plot, scheme, conspire and counter-plot with each other, the deep-seated emotional ties between them get played out in the political arena, such that sibling rivalry and marital jealousy translate into civil war, treason, and perhaps even murder among the members of a royal nuclear family. As if attempting an explanation for the bloody behavior of his family, Geoffrey (the middle son) is alleged to have said: ‘It is our own basic nature, planted in us as if by hereditary right from both our close and distant ancestors, that none of us should love the other, but that always brother should fight against brother, and son against father.”

The play originally appeared on Broadway in a very successful run in 1966 and was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1968. The well-developed characters and the brilliant script made for broad popularity. Although the themes are very serious, the dialogue between husband and wife, parent and child, and problematic house guests contribute to some very serious laughter.

Catherine Zublin, famous for her glamorous and historically accurate costumes, will meet and exceed expectations on this production. Expect to see some of the most beautiful costumes she has ever designed - and that is saying something!

photographs available after February 18.
For mor information about this production, contact Tracy Callahan, tcallahan@weber.edu