Milwaukee Chamber Theatre stages “The Lion in Winter”

Beginning Friday, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre stages The Lion in Winter, James Goldman’s classic dark comedy about King Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons’ derisive quest to inherit the throne.

The play opens in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, coincidentally just two weeks before the much-anticipated royal wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Set in the 12^th century, The Lion in Winter takes place at a time when royal marriages were powerful strategic alliances formed to expand kingdoms and buttress political claims — a far cry from the media and tourist driven spectacles they have become today.

It is known that King Henry II banished his wife Eleanor, locked her in a distant castle tower and took a nubile French mistress. The play puts a fictional spin on this historic context and is set during the Christmas of 1183, when Henry temporarily frees Queen Eleanor for the holidays while still entertaining his mistress, Princess Alais of France. Eleanor is charged with the thorny task of helping Henry choose his successor, and throughout the holiday celebration their three sons –Richard, Geoffrey and John — vie for their inheritance.

With Henry’s throne at stake, each character engages in their own brand of deception to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs.

“The script is like candy coming out of your mouth,” says Tracy Michelle Arnold, who portrays Eleanor in MCT’s production. She comments that the story is especially relevant to audiences today; with each character vying for power and ultimate control of the political situation, audiences will be able to draw parallels to present-day events.

“No one speaks the truth one hundred percent of the time, and everyone has a hidden agenda,” Arnold says.

Directed by MCT producing artistic director C. Michael Wright, the play features veteran Milwaukee actor Brian Mani in the role of Henry II.  Lenny Banovez makes his MCT debut as Geoffrey and Marquette student actors Alexandra Bonesho, J. Patrick Cahill and Joe Picchetti make their debuts as Alais, John and Philip, King of France, respectively.

MCT is collaborating with Marquette University Theatre Arts on The Lion in Winter, which is larger in scope and complexity than any other project of its kind in the company’s 36-year history. Twenty Marquette students and faculty are participating in the production as actors, designers and production personnel.

The Lion in Winter opens Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m. and runs through May 1 in the Broadway Theatre Center’s Cabot Theatre. Tickets are available at the BTC box office, 158 N. Broadway, 414-291-7800 and the MCT website.