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<b>by James Goldman, directed by Gregg Taylor
Scaramouche Theatre, St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Church, Toronto
February 24-March 11, 2006
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<i>The Lion in Winter</i> is probably best known as a 1968 film starring Peter O’Toole as Henry II of England and Katherine Hepburn as his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. Scaramouche Theatre presents James Goldman’s original play and basis for the film in the suitably neo-Romanesque chancel of St. Stephen-in-the Fields Church.
It is 1183 and Henry (Jonathan Llyr) has temporarily freed his wife (Maya Toman) from prison to join him and their three sons to celebrate Christmas. Henry wants his oafish but loyal son John (Peter Nicol) to succeed him. Eleanor backs the brave but unruly Richard Lionheart (Todd Campbell). A power struggle ensues. While the characters’ candour about their lust for power no longer shocks or surprises, the play still works as a comedy about a day in the life the ultimate dysfunctional family where the father has the power of life and death over his wife and children and everyone literally has daggers drawn for everyone else.
In an uneven cast, Toman is superb as the emotionally manipulative Eleanor subtly deploying her arsenal of rage to teary confession to get what she wants. Llyr’s quieter musings are more effective than his ringing bluster. Nicol proves a gifted comic and Todd Dulmage an elegant King of France.
©Christopher Hoile
Note: A version of this review appeared in <i>Eye Weekly</i> 2006-03-02.
Photo: Jonathan Llyr. ©2004 Space Station.
<b>2006-03-02</b>
<b>The Lion in Winter</b>