McGuire Proscenium Stage / Nov 19 – Dec 31, 2016

by JAMES GOLDMAN STUDY GUIDE Inside

THE PLAYWRIGHT Biography of James Goldman • 3 Comments about the Playwright • 4

THE PLAY Synopsis, Characters and Setting • 5 Historical Note about The Lion in Winter • 6 A Brief Production History and Analysis of The Lion in WInter • 7 Comments about the Play • 8 Quotes about the Play • 10

CULTURAL CONTEXT Notes about the 12th Century • 11 Biographies of the Historical Personages in the Play • 13 Parents, Children and Siblings • 16 Selected Glossary of Terms • 17

THE GUTHRIE PRODUCTION Notes from the Creative Team • 22

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For Further Understanding • 25

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DRAMATURG Carla Steen GRAPHIC DESIGNER Akemi Waldusky RESEARCH Stephanie Engel, Carla Steen

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About the by Stephanie Engel Playwright Literary Intern

James Goldman was born in production company at the end Chicago on June 30, 1927, and of the 1970s entitled Raoulfilm, was the older brother of novelist a reference to the stuffed pet William Goldman (writer of The lion that was a common fixture James Goldman Princess Bride and Butch Cassidy by Goldman’s typewriter. “When and the Sundance Kid). James you’re [young] you have an endless Goldman spent his undergrad at number of ideas,” Goldman later the world. He viewed himself as a University of Chicago then studied joked in a 1980 interview with comedic writer. I think his sense of music criticism as a postgraduate at Publishers Weekly. “I just seem to humor was everything about him.” Columbia University before being have the knack for switching from drafted into the army during World one medium to the other.” The comedic timing and wry wit War II. Following his two-year stint within Goldman’s work did not in Korea and a dawning realization Indeed this knack continued go unnoticed. For the Hollywood that he had “neither the talent nor through the latter half of his career film ofThe Lion in Winter in 1968, the sensibility” for musical analysis, when Goldman took to writing which starred Peter O’Toole and Goldman shifted his attention novels, constructing stories like Katharine Hepburn, Goldman won to fiction writing, collaborating Myself as Witness in 1980, a tale the 1969 Academy Award for the with his brother to produce the about King John of England, a movie’s adapted screenplay. Two Broadway play Blood, Sweat and familiar face in The Lion in Winter years later, Follies debuted on Stanley Poole (1961) and A Family narrative. “I read about the things Broadway, the same year that one Affair (1962), a comedic musical they did, I studied them and of Goldman’s earliest works, They written with the assistance of then imagined what they felt and Might Be Giants, was produced lyricist and composer John Kander. thought and said and wanted from for film. With Goldman’s book and their lives,” Goldman explained Sondheim’s musical score, Follies Goldman also undertook his own when describing his process of won the New York Drama Critics independent projects in the 1960s, bringing historical characters to life Circle Award for best musical, writing They Might Be Giants through fiction. “What they were best actress in a musical and best in 1961, a play that caught the really like, of course, no one will director, and had a subsequent run attention of Stephen Sondheim ever know.” For him, the joy came of 522 performances. Then, in 1987, and led to their future partnership from “putting clues together” and when Follies moved to London, on the TV musical “Evening uncovering small, yet authentic the musical won both the Evening Primrose” in 1966, and the stage details – performing the role Standard and Olivier awards for musical Follies in 1971. Following of detective, not historian, for best musical, after an extensive his success with The Lion in Winter, historically constructed narratives. round of rewrites by Goldman. first produced more than six In fact, according to Goldman, the months before “Evening Primrose,” inspiration for The Lion in Winter On October 28, 1998, James Goldman continued to write came from his simple discovery Goldman passed away while stories that delved into the lives that Henry II had imprisoned his preparing for another revival of The of historical and classical literary wife Eleanor for a number of years, Lion in Winter on Broadway, over figures for not only the stage but only letting her out for holidays 30 years after he first saw the play the screen as well. Goldman’s like Christmas or Easter. When staged. Since his death, Lion has repertoire soon included renditions discussing The Lion in Winter with undergone numerous revivals both of Oliver Twist (1982) and Anna Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Kelli in the United States and abroad, Karenina (1985) for television Frost-Allred, Barbara Goldman, along with a restored edition of the audiences and Robin and Marian said that “The Lion in Winter could 1968 film and a TV movie starring (1976) and White Nights (1985) for have been a tragedy as easily as Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close. moviegoers. He and his second a comedy. And it has to do with wife, Barbara, even created a [my husband’s] point of view of

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Comments About the Playwright

Meeting Goldman, one can When “The Lion in Winter” was understand how his view of human produced in 1966, it closed nature grows out of his own after only 83 performances, but personality. A large, genial bear of Goldman was commissioned to a man whose shy grin flashes often, write the film adaptation. After his Goldman has a sunny outlook. … screenplay for “The Lion in Winter” won an Academy Award, “all Goldman’s interest in England’s sorts of good things happened,” past first manifested itself about 20 Goldman recalls. He mentions years ago, when he began a play his screenplay for “Nicholas and about Robin Hood, “not as the Errol Alexandra” and “Robin and Marian.” Flynn character but as a person.” Goldman also wrote “Waldorf,” a (The project was abandoned, later novel that sold few copies. … to surface as Goldman’s screenplay for “Robin and Marian.”) In the Goldman is proud of his prolific course of his research, he came output, but he is modest about his across a reference to the fact that varied talents. “I just seem to have Henry II had Eleanor imprisoned the knack for switching from one PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP for nine years, freeing her only for medium to the other,” he says. For Laila Robins (Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Christmas and Easter. From this the present, he is contemplating Kevyn Morrow (Henry) spark came “The Lion in Winter.” another novel, hoping that “Myself as Witness” will establish him as a Goldman also discovered that well-known name in the field. He is In Follies we deliberately decided contemporary sources said very tired, he says, with a twinkle in his not to create characters with wars little about King John. In the Middle eye, of being known as “the guy and all. Everybody would be, not a Ages, Goldman explains, recording who wrote ‘The Lion in Winter.’” type, but an essence of whatever history was not considered an they were about, which is why important profession. It was Sybil S. Steinberg, “PW Interviews: James James Goldman’s book got so fortuitous that several great Goldman,” Publishers Weekly, February 8, heavily criticized. People didn’t historians lived during the reign of 1980 understand what he was trying Henry II and his successor, Richard to do. I kept hearing people say, the Lionhearted, but around the Nowadays James Goldman, who “Those people are so bloodless.” turn of the 13th century “all the died in 1998, is mainly remembered Yes. That’s the idea of the piece. good chroniclers began to die.” for having written the book for Now that may be a wrong notion, John’s terrible reputation was Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies.” In but it was a very conscious choice, foisted on us by historians writing his lifetime, though, “The Lion in to create poetic essences, and by a full generation after his death, Winter” was his best-known piece poetic I mean the reduction of a Goldman notes. … of work – but not for the original human character in a situation to Broadway production, which ran its most succinct form. They never Emphasizing that he is not a for just 92 performance sin 1966. spoke a normal English sentence. historian, he nonetheless confesses It was the success of the 1968 film Everything was written. Jim was to his delight in locating authentic version, which won Goldman a drawing essences. That’s his style details; the menu for one of King best-screenplay Oscar, that made of writing. John’s banquets that he came “The Lion in Winter” a regional- across in an old cookbook, for theater staple. Stephen Sondheim, quoted in “The Musical example. … Theater: A Talk by Stephen Sondheim,” Terry Teachout, “A ‘Lion’ Roars in Chicago,” Dramatists Guild Quarterly, Autumn 1978 The Wall Street Journal, June 6, 2008

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Clockwise from above: Philip II, Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, John and Richard Lionheart

CHARACTERS Synopsis Henry II king of England, age 50

For Christmas in 1183, Henry is at his palace in Chinon, France, where Eleanor of Aquitaine he has gathered his estranged wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, his three his wife, age 61 squabbling sons – Richard, Geoffrey and John – and his not-so-secret lover, Alais. He intends to settle the question of inheritance and Richard Lionheart succession to the English crown, and has invited the new king of France, their oldest son, age 26 Philip (Alais’ brother), to hammer out a new treaty. Geoffrey The young French ruler refuses to give in to Henry’s hardball tactics, their middle son, age 25 however, and Alais is fearful that Henry will cast her aside if it means he can sign a favorable treaty and secure his legacy. The impatient demands John of Henry’s sons also threaten to jeopardize the entire process. Richard is their youngest son, age 16 the eldest son and already a strong warrior who inherited Henry’s bravery and military skill, and has the support of his mother Eleanor. Geoffrey is Philip II intelligent and devious but fears he will be relegated to one day serve king of France, age 17 as chancellor to the future king. John is a pimply teenager who wants everything handed to him and, lucky for him, happens to be Henry’s Alais Capet favorite son. his sister, age 23

The greatest threat to Henry’s plan lies in the imposing Eleanor, who he has kept imprisoned for the last 10 years after she and her sons rebelled SETTING against Henry’s rule. She has been freed by Henry for the duration of the treaty negotiations, because as the ruler of the Aquitaine, she still holds Henry II’s palace in her control valuable pieces of Henry’s empire. Despite her years behind at Chinon, France. bars, she is cunning and powerful enough to match Henry move for move Christmas, 1183 and work to put her own favorite, Richard, in line for succession.

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Historical Note about by James Goldman The Lion in Winter Playwright

PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP

Laila Robins (Eleanor of Aquitaine), Kevyn Morrow (Henry II), Thallis Santesteban (Alais), Torsten Johnson (Richard) and Riley O’Toole (John)

The historical material on Henry’s content of those relationships. The instance, Christmas is celebrated reign is considerable insofar as people in this play, their characters — are deliberate and not intended battles, plots, wars, treaties and and passions, while consistent with to outrage the historical aspects of alliances are concerned. This play, the facts we have, are fictions. the script. while simplifying the political maneuvering — and combining a There were no laws of meeting of the French and English primogeniture in Henry’s time. It Kings in 1183 with a Royal Court held was a rare thing when the King at Windsor the following year into a was followed by his eldest son. Christmas Court that never was — is When kings died, it was open based on the available data. season on the English throne, a fact responsible for much that Henry did. The facts we have, while clear enough as to the outcome of The play, finally, contains relationships — such things as who anachronisms in speech, thought, kills whom and when — say little habit, custom and so on. Those the if anything about the quality and author is aware of — the way, for

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A Brief Production History and by Stephanie Engel Analysis of The Lion in Winter Literary Intern

James Goldman’s The Lion in proponents, who insist that three Oscars, for best actress (a Winter premiered on May 3, 1966, modernizing the dialogue helps surprising tie between Hepburn at the Ambassador Theatre on audiences connect to the universal and newcomer Barbra Streisand), Broadway and featured Rosemary story of familial dysfunction. best adapted screenplay and Harris as Eleanor and Robert Such positive commentary also best original score, showing that Preston as Henry, along with a commonly describes the play Goldman’s story was still a great 23-year-old Christopher Walken as as a more humorous version of vehicle for powerful actresses. French King Philip II. The play ran Edward Albee’s 1962 play Who’s In fact, both Harris and Hepburn for only 92 performances before Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, by the received countless commendations closing that same year. Reviewers way in which The Lion in Winter for their ferocious yet witty like The New York Times theater comically displays the dissection characterizations, even in the critic Stanley Kauffman found of a marriage in the most vicious reviews of unconvinced critics. the play lacking a fundamental and yet interestingly contemporary And the story of the Plantagenets’ question, which led to a predictable way, especially when considering dysfunctional Christmas has pattern of “statement of intent; the story’s historical setting. In received countless revivals in which turns out to be a deception; his 1981 review for The New York the United States and the United which turns out to be a deliberately Times, Joseph Catinella suggested Kingdom, especially in the transparent deception,” that left that although the play was flawed, last 20 years. In 1999, Michael audiences asking “What is Henry’s Goldman’s word choices provided Mayer directed a production at successor to us?” a “contemporary flair” that Roundabout starring Stockard could endow the characters with Channing and Laurence Fishburne, However, such criticism did not “genuine, not waxworks, emotions,” a revival that ran for a total of prevent The Lion in Winter from another way in which some critics 93 performances, one more than reemerging two years later. In 1968, have continued to defend against its original staging. Furthermore, after a rise in demand for epic the play’s naysayers on both fronts The Lion in Winter has appeared English historical films, Anthony over the past half-century. at significant venues like the Harvey directed Peter O’Toole American Shakespeare Center and Katharine Hepburn in the The 1968 movie also garnered in Virginia and performed at the Hollywood rendition of the tale. mixed reviews. Many critics disliked Theatre Royal Haymarket in London Again, the two leads were not the how the adaptation appeared under the direction of Trevor Nunn. only significant stars. Nigel Terry, to marginalize the historical The play was also adapted for the who would later play King Arthur importance of the Plantagenet small screen in 2003, with Patrick in Excalibur (1981), performed the lineage in exchange for over-the- Stewart and Glenn Close starring role of John, Timothy Dalton, a top dramatics. Time described in a television movie made for future James Bond, was Philip and Goldman’s adapted screenplay Showtime. a young Anthony Hopkins played as “a TV-sized version of the Richard. sovereigns next door, their epic The Lion in Winter receives its first struggles shrunk to sitch-com production at the Guthrie under the The Lion in Winter has faced squabbles.” direction of Kevin Moriarty, artistic its share of criticism, on stage director of Dallas Theater Center. and on screen. For some, the Yet both the play and movie story’s intentional employment received a significant number of modernized and at times of nominations and awards. On anachronistic language is too stage, Rosemary Harris won her stagy in its presentation. This has first and only Tony Award after been defended by Goldman’s playing Eleanor, and the film won

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Comments about the Play

Most everyone who talks to me has meant to my life as a writer. I Marital strife, generational warfare, about The Lion in Winter is totally fell in love with the Plantagenets adultery, sibling rivalry, betrayal and convinced the play has always been while writing Lion and I’m sure that, even homophobia. Some things a great success. Even people who had the play a stayed dead, I would never go out of style. actually saw it during its run on never have gone back to them Broadway are apt to mention what again. … By investing 12th-Century England’s a hit it was or that they caught it Henry II and his queen, Eleanor in its second year. In point of fact, Historians and storytellers don’t of Aquitaine, with contemporary Lion opened on March 3, 1966 have much in common, but they voices and psychological insights, to highly contradictory notices, do share this: the past, once it James Goldman’s 1966 drama including a thundering dismissal gets hold of you, does actually “The Lion in Winter” illuminates in The New York Times. Eighty- come alive. For scholars, this is archetypal patterns in families, three performances later, it closed troublesome. For writers, it’s the politics and the turbulent unions of and sank from sight for what I was good stuff. … men and women. convinced would be forever. I know that I have never met these Philip Brandes, “Handsome ‘Lion in Winter’ a Then came the film. characters. I made them up. I read Bit Too Tame,” Los Angeles Times, November about the things they did, I studied 16, 1994 I still can’t quite believe what them and then imagined what happened. There are many they felt and thought and said and plays that fail and then become wanted from their lives. What they successful movies; Casablanca, were rally like, of course, no one for example. But the play itself will ever know. remains a failure; there were no new productions of Everybody James Goldman, “Introduction” to The Lion Michael Hanna (Geoffrey) and Came to Rick’s, the play on which in Winter, New York, Random House, 1980 David Pegram (Phillip II) the film was based. And there are other plays that attain a brief new PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP lease on life from being filmed, only “The Lion in Winter” is a witty play to disappear again. Lion, as a stage that deals with everything from piece was more than reprieved the formation of a dynasty when by the movie. It was transformed civilization was teetering between into a theater work that has been barbarism and the rule of law to the performed all over the world. … meaning of familial relationships. …

Frankly, I’m amazed. I have no And while “The Lion in Winter” explanations why the play is still is, without question, a comedy, alive; or why it speak as clearly what makes it interesting is as it does to younger audiences. the underlying seriousness of a There is, I know, a sense in which disputatious family caught in a it is a family play; but this is hardly historical vise. a unique distinction and I can’t believe that it accounts for all this Without the drama, “The Lion in interest in the goings on at Chinon Winter” is soap opera. in 1183. Leah D. Frank, “‘Lion in Winter’: Mid-Life Whatever the explanation, I am Crisis,” The New York Times, October 9, 1988 eternally grateful. Not only for the obvious reasons, but for what it

8 \ GUTHRIE THEATER The script – James Goldman’s characters, but instead are used master opus, for which he won to bring their raw emotions into an Oscar – glitters with its own sharper focus. Editor’s note: The Lion in audacious, decidedly anti- Winter opened on Broadway Shakespearean brilliance. … Terry Teachout, “A ‘Lion’ Roars in Chicago,” in March 1966. It received The Wall Street Journal, June 6, 2008 mixed reviews, among which Stalking one another like jungle [T]he prickly family Christmas is was the voice of The New creatures, the vexed royal family, an event with which many in the York Times, coming down in this telling, is made up of super- audience will identify, though most on the negative side. The sexualized emotional predators. families only plot each other’s grisly show closed after just 92 Forget clean arcs of development demises as a whimsical fantasy. Not performances, in no small – the spine-stiffening that Hamlet so the Plantagenets, who are ready part because of the Times’ and Prince Hal undergo – and and waiting with actual armies to influence. An excerpt from yield to repartee and the kind take each other out if the division that review follows: of volatile, occasionally cynical of the turkey (or the kingdom) characterization that intrigued goes the wrong way. … Historically James Goldman has written Goldman’s fellow playwrights, speaking, it’s a justifiable version the work with intelligence, Eugene O’Neill and Edward Albee. of their relationship, and a very some astringent wit and … beguiling one. much theatrical skill; but all through the evening, [T]his “Lion in Winter” is a young Alex von Tunzelman, “The Lion in Winter: it’s the wrong question keeps playwright’s arrogant rebuke to ‘Dynasty’ in the middle ages,” The Guardian, growing in us: What is Henry’s Shakespeare, a megaphone for April 2, 2009 successor to us? the 60’s theme of family malice, an occasion for new actors to In other words, Mr. Goldman’s supersede the dead, and in all The contemporary stage is not play – for all its considerable a glorious fight – intelligent often home to this kind of literate, cleverness of construction, aggression, a delight. witty, twisty excursion through the pith and mercurial storming private side of history, and more’s of moods – never really Virginia Heffernan, “A Cozy Family Ready to the pity, although it should be shakes or concerns us. His Kill One Another,” The New York Times, May noted that “The Lion in Winter” characters are recognizable 22, 2004 struggled to find an audience but not affecting; his drama is in 1966, when it premiered on discernible but not gripping; Broadway. and a theme – to justify the The anachronisms in “The Lion in existence of the play here and Winter” are deliberate, for it was After receiving what Goldman dryly now – is hard to find. Goldman’s conceit to portray the described in a later edition of the life-and-death struggle among play as a “thunderous dismissal in Stanley Kauffmann, “Theater: ‘The Henry, Eleanor and their three The New York Times, the show ran Lion in Winter’ Opens,” The New York resentful sons as a drawing-room for fewer than three months. But Times, March 4, 1966 comedy about absolute power the 1968 film version, starring Peter and its discontents. Not only do O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn, his seven characters engage in with an Oscar-winning adaptation witty verbal fencing throughout by Goldman, greatly enhanced the the first act, but they go so far as popularity of the stage version of to drop the mask of illusion and let “The Lion in Winter.” the audience know that they know they’re actors in a play. “Of course Don Aucoin, “It’s a jungle in there,” Boston he has a knife,” Eleanor says at one Globe, July 1, 2013 point. “We all have knives. It is 1183 and we’re barbarians.” Yet these touches of proto-postmodernism don’t come off as coy, … the punch lines are never allowed to obscure the underlying bitterness of the

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Quotes from the Play

It isn’t such a dreadful thing to be a Queen of Henry was eighteen when we met and I was Queen of England. Not all eyes will weep for you. France. He came down from the North to Paris with ~ Henry, act one, scene one a mind like Aristotle’s and a form like mortal sin. We shattered the Commandments on the spot. Tell me they all three want the crown, I’ll tell you it’s ~ Eleanor, act one, scene three a feeble prince that doesn’t. They may snap at me or plot and that makes them the kind of sons I want. I’ve He’s all I’ve got. How often does he have to hear it? snapped and plotted all my life: there is no other way Every supper? Should we start the soup with who we to be a king, alive and fifty all at once. love and who we don’t? ~ Henry, act one, scene one ~ Henry, act one, scene four

[S]ome of them are smarter folk than I or crueler or I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How’s more ruthless or dishonest. But not all rolled in one. that for blasphemy? I dressed my maids as Amazons The priests write all the history these days and they’ll and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis do me justice. Henry, they’ll say, was a master bastard. had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn but ~ Henry, act one, scene one the troops were dazzled. ~ Eleanor, act one, scene four Well — what shall we hang? The holly or each other? ~ Henry, act one, scene two I fooled you, didn’t I? God, but I do love being king. ~ Henry, act one, scene four Henry: Once I’m dead, who’s to be king? I could draw papers till my scribes drop or the ink runs out and Of course he has a knife. He always has a knife. We once I died, unless I’ve left behind me three contented all have knives. It is eleven eighty-three and we’re sons, my lands will split three ways in civil war. You barbarians. see my problem? ~ Eleanor, act one, scene five Philip: Clearly; but it’s yours, not mine. ~ act one, scene two That’s a rare fair feature, even teeth. She smiled to excess but she chewed with real distinction. It isn’t power that I feel deprived of; it’s the mention ~ Eleanor, act two, scene one that I miss. There’s no affection for me here. ~ Geoffrey, act one, scene two Life, if it’s like anything at all, is like an avalanche. To blame the little ball of snow that starts it all, to say it Henry, I have a confession. … I don’t much like our is the cause, is just as true as it is meaningless. children. ~ Eleanor, act two, scene one ~ Eleanor, act one, scene two Henry: The day those stout hearts band together is Kings, queens, knights everywhere you look and the day that pigs get wings. I’m the only pawn. I haven’t got a thing to lose: that Eleanor: There’ll be pork in the treetops come the makes me dangerous. morning. ~ Alais, act one, scene three ~ act two, scene one

I know. You know I know. I know you know I know, we know that Henry knows and Henry knows we know it. We’re a knowledgeable family. ~ Geoffrey, act one, scene three

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Notes about the 12th Century

FRANCE’S RELATIONSHIP powerful continental feudatories WITH ENGLAND would encircle and isolate France Did you Know? and prevent her from further France, according to John of extending her territories and Salisbury, was “of all nations, the influence. • Henry was the great- sweetest and most civilized.” The grandson of William I, (the House of Capet had ruled the Alison Weir, in Eleanor of Aquitaine, New Conqueror), the Norman country since 987, when the feudal York: Ballantine Books, 1999 who invaded England and lord Hugh Capet had been elected became king in 1066. King after the death of Louis V, the last monarch of the Carolignian FEUDALISM • Eleanor and Henry’s fathers dynasty, which descended from the – William X and Geoffrey Emperor Charlemagne. Historians wax both eloquent and Plantagenet – joined wrathful over whether William [the together in an unsuccessful In the early twelfth century, the Conqueror] introduced, invented or attempt to invade and kingdom of France found itself discovered feudalism, but everyone conquer Normandy in 1136. in a struggle for supremacy with is agreed that whatever he did, Geoffrey succeeded in 1144 feudal vassals who had extended he made feudalism work better on his own. their territories and become more in England than did any other powerful than the crown, whose monarch in Europe. Feudalism • In order to protect his new own authority held little weight is the most important single interests in Normandy, beyond the royal demesne [land term for comprehending English Geoffrey Plantagenet holdings]. This comprised the Île medieval history, but as a system declined to join Louis de France, a small feudatory that it is almost impossible to describe, VII (and Eleanor) on the had evolved from the Carolingian some historians going so far as Second Crusade in 1147. county of Paris, as well as Sens, to question whether it actually Orléans, and part of Berry. existed at all. Possibly this is why • The surname Plantagenet The greatest threats to French students so often confuse it with wasn’t used to designate expansion were posed by the the “futile system.” Feudalism was the family during their Count of Blois, linked by strong both an attitude of mind and a lifetimes, but derived from family and political ties to the political relationship supplying the Henry’s father, Geoffrey count of Champagne, and by the human bonds that held medieval of Anjou. He wore yellow count of Anjou [Henry’s father], society together. In theory, it broom plant (planta who was determined to annex was a contractual but unwritten genista) in his hat and was the duchy of Normandy, which agreement between private given the nickname during he claimed in right of his wife individuals (the lord and his vassal) his lifetime. Matilda, heiress of Henry I, King of whereby the lord exchanged land England. The Norman Conquest for services, mostly military but • Eleanor (and others) of 1066, which made the dukes sometimes legal and financial. probably didn’t know how of Normandy kings of England Feudalism, although private, in to write. They learned to and gave them equal rank with the sense that the lord granted read, but used clerks for their overlords, had dramatically authority or dominium over land writing. Eleanor learned altered the balance of power in and the vassal in return took an how to read her native northern France; the separation oath of fealty to obey, was public tongue (Provençal), some of Normandy from England would in purpose. Its goal was to tie the Latin and French as well. remain the aim of successive political and military elite together French monarchs, who knew all into an organized and controllable too well that the union of these unit that could be called upon to

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Did you Know? cont’d

• Henry spoke only Latin and French dialects upon becoming king of England, but he was competent in other languages.

• When Henry was 13, his father Geoffrey proposed to Louis VII that Henry marry Louis and Eleanor’s daughter Marie, then an infant. Geoffrey was looking to expand his influence. Louis said no.

• Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Histories of the Kings of Britain (published mid- 12th century) included a number of chapters about the prophecies of Merlin, the legendary magician. Some of these prophecies became associated with Henry II and his family. “This shall the eagle of the broken covenant PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP gild over, and the Eagle shall Laila Robins (Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Kevyn Morrow (Henry II) rejoice in her third nesting” was connected to Eleanor, her divorce and the birth of defend the Kingdom and enforce below the private faith a man felt Richard (third son, though a minimum of law and order. It for his immediate overlord. The sixth child including those offered security in an era that was person and personality of the king with Louis) and “The roaring desperately short of ready money were always far greater magnets whelps shall keep vigil, and and had only land with which to for loyal than was the crown he forsaking the forests shall pay for a professionally trained wore. … follow the chase within the standing army. … walls of cities. No small The central political issue of the slaughter shall they make of The vassal owed personal loyalty day was how to get the vassals to them that withstand them, to his lord, and he tended to define live up to their oaths of fealty and and the tongues of bulls himself in terms of the person to be honest, faithful and true to their shall they cut out. They whom he had pledge his service overlords, and how to get the top shall load with chains the and from whom he expected barons to wage war for the King necks of them that roar, and support. “Between lord and man and not against him. the days of their grandsire there is only faith, and faith must shall they renew” is thought be recognized and kept between Lacey Baldwin Smith, English History made to describe Henry’s sons’ them.” This was the motional Brief, Irreverent, and Pleasurable, Chicago: rebellion against him. cement that tied society together, Academy Chicago Publishers, 2007 and, as a result, any sense of obligation to a public authority, such as the state, was placed well

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Biographies of the Historical Personages

Henry II, King of England (1133- of his rule, Henry grappled with his in Germany in the dead of winter 1189, r. 1154-1189) was the first sons over the issue of succession, in 1194.) After Richard’s return to Plantagenet king of England, great- ultimately being succeeded by England, Eleanor presided as queen grandson to William the Conqueror, Richard in 1189 after battling him at a ceremonial crown-wearing at and son to Empress Matilda and and his younger son John over land Winchester. Geoffrey, count of Anjou. Through in northern France. his father’s death in 1151 and his Following Richard’s death, Eleanor marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) supported John’s ascendency in 1152, Henry became the lord of was the countess of Poitou and to the throne and coerced the western France, which meant that duchess of Aquitaine, the richest noblemen of Aquitaine and her he owned more French property and largest province in 12th-century other realms into accepting him as than the French crown did. In France. She was first married to overlord. By this time, Eleanor was 1154 Henry was crowned king of Louis VII of France in 1147 and had in her 80s, far beyond the normal England after fighting his mother’s two daughters with him before 12th-century lifespan. She retired cousin King Stephen for the right their marriage was dissolved in 1152. to Fontevrault Abbey, where her of succession, making him the Two months after the annulment husband Henry and son Richard ruler over substantial lands of both she married Henry. Some say that were buried, and spent her last England and France, all at the age Eleanor’s marriage to Henry caused days among the nuns there. She of 21. the next 300 years of war between died in the spring of 1204, at age France and England, because 82. Henry’s greatest innovation came Henry now controlled more of from the creation of the English France than Louis did. Philip II Augustus (1165-1223, r. common law, a system based on Eleanor had eight children 1179-1223) was the son of Louis VII the circuit judge, the legal writ with Henry, five sons and three and became the king of France and the jury. However, Henry daughters, all but one of whom by age 15. At the time, the actual clashed with his former friend survived to adulthood. She was royal domain of the French kings and chancellor, Thomas Becket, extremely invested in the future was small, consisting primarily of the archbishop of Canterbury. of her children. However, after a territory around Paris known as the The two disagreed over where family rebellion against Henry in Ile-de-France. To the north, west the line was between the church 1173, Eleanor was captured and and south stretched the imposing and state and including the trying imprisoned in southern England. Plantagenet empire controlled by of criminal clerks. In 1170, Becket Although she occasionally Henry II, which included Normandy, was murdered by four of Henry’s appeared at state occasions, she Brittany, Anjou, Touraine and knights, an act that Henry did not remained a prisoner until Henry’s Aquitaine. directly order but which the knights death in 1189. claimed he wanted done. Throughout his time as king, Philip Henry also encountered great Upon Henry’s death, Richard partnered and/or fought with many conflict with his own family over claimed the throne and freed men of the Plantagenet line in the years. Henry and Eleanor had Eleanor, installing her as his trusted order to improve the prospects of eight children, seven of whom counselor. Eleanor held significant his own territory. He was close with survived to adulthood and four of power and oversaw, among other both Henry the Young King and whom fought for control of the things, the quelling John’s rebellion Geoffrey, and he made an alliance English crown. Throughout Henry’s in 1192 when Richard was out of the with Richard in 1188 at the end of reign there were several familial country and the running of England Henry’s reign. rebellions against him, the first of when Richard was imprisoned which led to Henry’s imprisonment by the Duke of Austria and the Philip and Richard remained allies of his Eleanor, the second of which Holy Roman Emperor. (She also after Henry’s death in 1189, and ended with the death of his first oversaw the gathering of Richard’s together they led the Third Crusade son and presumed heir, Henry the immense ransom, which she into Jerusalem. At one point during Young King. During the latter half personally brought to his captors their alliance, one chronicler noted

GUTHRIE THEATER \ 13 CULTURAL CONTEXT that “Philip honoured Richard so in battles across northern France, close friend Philip of France, when highly that every day they ate at eventually securing his inheritance was wounded during the games. the same table and shared the with the defeat and death of Henry. The wound became infected and same dishes; at night the bed did Unfortunately for Richard, his rule Geoffrey died at the age of 28. not separated them. The king of was plagued by military blunders Geoffrey left behind two children, France loved him as his own soul and economic failures. After failing Eleanor and Arthur, the latter of and their mutual love was so great to recapture Jerusalem during the whom was born posthumously. that the lord king of England was Third Crusade, Richard was taken When Richard became king, he stupefied by its vehemence.” This prisoner by the Duke of Austria and recognized Arthur as his heir, as he quote has been interpreted in the Holy Roman Emperor because had no children of his own. After many ways over the years, with of affronts he made during the Arthur became a ward of Philip, some believing that Philip and crusade. After the first installment however, Richard put his favor Richard were lovers, however of his ransom was payed, Richard behind John as his presumptive this assumption can neither be returned home to face a rebellious heir and when Richard died, John explicitly confirmed nor denied. John and to fortify his land from was recognized as the new king. When John succeeded Richard as outside attacks by his one-time ally This led to a war between John king of England, Philip capitalized Philip. and Arthur, with John being the on John’s lack of political acumen eventual victor. Arthur, age 15 at and military skill to win substantial Despite his many victories and this point, was captured at the territory for France. By the end the glamor attached to them by battle of Mirebeau-en-Poitou and of his rule in 1223, Philip had minstrels and chroniclers, his war imprisoned at Falaise. There are quadrupled the land that France efforts led to severe economic many rumors as to what happened controlled directly, mostly at the difficulties throughout Richard’s to him, one of which claimed that in expense of English rulers, and realm and would later be a cause a drunken rage John killed Arthur the French government had also for the Plantagenet decline under with his own hands, weighted the become more centralized in Paris, John’s rule. body and threw it into the Seine. to adapt to the greater amount of Arthur’s sister Eleanor on the other territory to control. In 1199, Richard was hit in the hand, who had also been captured shoulder by a crossbow bolt while at Mirebeau, was treated well. She Richard I, the Lionheart (1157-1199, fighting over a treasure trove in was given an allowance, gifts and r. 1189-1199), Henry and Eleanor’s Limousin. He soon developed a modicum of free movement by second oldest son, was the duke gangrene and died that April. John John. She died in 1241. of Aquitaine and Eleanor’s favorite assume the throne as Richard’s heir, son. He was betrothed to Louis as Richard had no children. King John of England (1166-1216, VII’s daughter Alais in 1169, and r.1199-1216), Henry and Eleanor’s four years later led his first military Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany (1158- youngest son, grew up in Henry’s campaign, fighting alongside his 1186) was the second youngest son court as his father’s favorite. As a brothers Henry the Young King and of Henry and Eleanor and the duke fourth son not expected to become Geoffrey against their father for of Brittany following his marriage king, John was readied for a life in more autonomy of rule. to Constance, the daughter of the church, living at the abbey of Although Richard and his brothers Conan IV, duke of Brittany, in 1181. Fontevrault for at least five years of were defeated, 10 years later, Henry Although Geoffrey not the oldest his adolescence. offered to make Richard the heir son and fought against Henry in to the English throne, after the multiple familial squabbles, Henry His position did not prevent him passing of Richard’s older brother did at one point toy with making from being placed in the center of Henry the Young King. However, Geoffrey the next king, in order to a battle for power between Henry in exchange for the crown, Henry tie Brittany permanently with the and his other sons. In 1173, Henry wanted Richard to give his most rest of the Plantagenet empire. attempted to give John some of prized possession, the Aquitaine, to But Henry did not follow through his own land in order to improve John, who did not have lands of his with his plan and the question of John’s marriage prospects. Yet own. Richard refused; over the next succession remained unresolved this land was part of the presumed few years he developed an alliance even after Geoffrey’s death in 1186. inheritance Henry’s heir, Henry the with Philip of France. Between 1187 Geoffrey was in Paris at the time, Young King, would receive. Because and 1189, Richard fought his father attending a tournament held by his of this, John’s brothers and his own

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PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP

The cast of The Lion in Winter mother Eleanor rebelled against the Magna Carta, the first formal After Henry died in 1189, Eleanor Henry, along with the help of Louis, document stating that the monarch took Alais prisoner in order to king of France. John, who was age was under the same rule of law as prevent her marriage to Richard. six at the time, did not participate his people, a dramatic curtailment At this point both Eleanor and on either side of the ensuing war. of royal power. Richard had decided Alais was John was often on the sidelines no longer Richard’s best option, for many of the family’s quarrels, Alais Capet (1160-unknown) was since her affair with Henry could at least until 1189 when he joined the fourth daughter of Louis VII possibly provide grounds for his brother Richard to fight one of France and half-sister to Philip. questioning the legitimacy of any last battle against their father. At age 8 she was betrothed to children Richard and Alais might John’s betrayal is believed to have Richard, Henry’s second son, as have. Richard married another hastened Henry’s death after the part of a larger treaty to cement woman, Berengaria of Navarre, battle. peace between Louis and Henry. but did not release Alais because She became Henry’s ward in with her, he retained control over Richard became king and although accordance with the treat terms the Vexin, a key piece of French John remained generally loyal to until she was old enough to be land given to the Plantagenets as his brother, he did attempt to take married, and by age 15 she was part of Alais’ dowry. These actions the throne from Richard during his Henry’s mistress. At one point, angered Philip, who was still Austrian imprisonment. Although Henry pursued an annulment unaware of the illicit affair between John’s rebellion had to be squashed from Eleanor in order to marry Alais and Henry, but after Richard first by Eleanor then by Richard Alais (who was still betrothed to produced evidence of Alais’ affair, upon his return, John remained Richard) and carried on openly the betrothal was nullified. After in good favor with Richard and with the Alais. The belief was that another five years of quarreling became king after Richard’s death Henry intended to disinherit his between France and England, Alais in 1199. John’s reign would be even sons with Eleanor in favor of new at age 35 returned to France. Philip less successful than Richard’s. By heirs with Alais. The annulment was married her to William III, count of the end of John’s rule, he had lost denied. Ponthieu, one of his vassals, and nearly all of England’s holdings in nothing more is known about her. France and had been forced to sign

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Parents, Children and Siblings

In a study appearing in the journal but that’s not the case,” says For all these everyday Child Development, researchers led Jenkins. “Sometimes moms are provocations, however, the most by Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of very similar with their kids, and common casus belli among human development and applied sometimes they’re very different siblings is property. Small children psychology at the University of with their kids. And when they have almost no control over their Toronto, report on the wide-ranging advantage some and disadvantage world, and what little they do have effects that playing favorites, others, it looks like it’s a problem concerns their possessions. They known as differential parenting, for all of the kids in terms of their understand early on that toys that can have on not just individual mental health.” are presented to them belong to siblings but also on the behavior them, and while kids are perfectly and mental health of all family Olivia B. Waxman, “How Parents Who Play willing to encroach on the property members. Favorites Hurt the Entire Family,” Time, rights of another, they can’t abide February 12, 2013 someone else trespassing on theirs. When parents provide … more positive feedback and Every individual in your family has Close behind property as a trigger encouragement to one child a separate, one-on-one relationship for sibling war making is the while sending primarily negative with every other individual, each of general concept of fairness. … comments to another, it’s no those relationships representing a [A] small child’s sense of what’s surprise that the negatively discrete, stand-alone pairing. … fair and what’s not goes beyond targeted child may develop more the favor-for-favor, good-deed- behavior problems and have a Every such pairing in any one for-good-deed arrangements of more difficult relationship with family has strengths, intimacies, reciprocal altruism, extending to his parents. But Jenkins and her and challenges that are peculiar to pretty much any transaction at all colleagues were interested in it, and this is particularly so in the that involves a brother or sister. exploring how differential parenting case of siblings. The relationship The cupcake must be cut precisely affects all siblings in a family and in between, say, two middle-born in half or the child who got stiffed understanding some of the factors sisters will be very different from will howl. … When sibs grow up, that might make such differential that between a firstborn son and a they may realize the fundamental treatment more likely. … second-born son, a firstborn girl and pointlessness of these arguments a fourth-born girl, and on and on. … on principle, but when they’re Overall, the negatively treated children, the issues seem very, very children tended to show more As with all environments, each real. attention and emotional problems of these can develop its own than their more positively treated climate and ecology, and this is Jeffrey Kluger, The Sibling Effect: Brothers, siblings by the end of the four- particularly so when it comes Sisters, and the Bonds That Define Us, New year study, but all children showed to the onset of storms. Parents York: Riverhead Books, 2011 higher rates of these problems who are asked how often their compared with when the trial children fight will predictably began. That, says Jenkins, was answer with exasperated absolutes: a surprise since previous work “Constantly,” they’ll say. “When had only highlighted the effect do they not fight?” Unscientific of differential parenting on the as these responses are, the fact targeted children. is, they’re surprisingly accurate. Indeed, parents who lament “We would have thought that, on what seems to be the almost the basis of previous research, hourly outbreak of hostilities in it would just be the disfavored the playroom may actually be children who are having problems, lowballing things. …

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Select Glossary of Terms

PEOPLE Thomas Becket because he almost immediately (1118-1170), chancellor of England excommunicated more of Henry’s Peter Abélard (1155-62) and later archbishop supporters, refused to un- (ca.1079-ca.1142) was a French of Canterbury (1162-1170) during excommunicate the archbishop of philosopher, theologian, poet, Henry’s reign. He was born into York and reveled in the cheers of teacher and monk. He met Heloïse, the merchant class and came to the crowds that greeted him. Henry the niece of the clergyman at the the notice of Theobald, archbishop made a comment about the pesky cathedral of Paris, in the 1110s of Canterbury, for whom he Becket that led four of his knights when she became a private pupil. became a clerk and eventually to believe they were fulfilling They fell in love, had a son named the archdeacon of Canterbury. his wishes when they murdered Astrolabe and then married secretly. Theobald suggested to Henry Becket in the Canterbury cathedral Her uncle was furious, Heloïse fled that Becket would make a good on December 29, 1170. He was to the Argenteuil convent outside chancellor, and he assumed that canonized by the Pope in February Paris, and the uncle had Abélard position in 1155 and performed 1173. castrated. Abélard then became a extremely well with Henry’s trust. “There was no Thomas Becket then, monk and made Heloïse become a The breach between Becket or Rosamund. No rivals — only me.” nun, but both remained in or near and Henry began when Henry (Eleanor, act one) Paris. Abélard’s book Theologia, appointed Becket as archbishop was condemned as heretical in of Canterbury upon Theobald’s Charlemagne 1121. By the 1130s he became abbot death. Henry hoped that by having (ca.747-814), aka Charles I or of a new community of nuns that Becket at the head of the church Charles the Great, a king of the Heloïse had become the head of, that he could consolidate all Franks (r.768-814) and first Holy and they put together a collection power – church and state – in his Roman Emperor (r.800-814). At of their love letters and religious own hands and strictly control the its height, Charlemagne’s empire correspondence. He and Heloïse church. But Becket wasn’t going included most of modern France, are buried side by side in Paris. to be Henry’s lackey; instead he Netherlands, Germany and Italy. “I was a queen of fifteen in those became a defender of the church “… and ruled, for thirty years, a state days and on dull afternoons I’d and its rights, and even resigned as great as Charlemagne’s.” (Henry, go watch Heloïse watch Abélard the chancellorship. During this act one) spread heresy like bonemeal in the time, clergy who broke the law palace gardens.” (Eleanor, act one) were tried by a bishop under Circe canon law rather than by the from Greek mythology: a sorceress Amazons state. Punishments were usually who could transform humans into in Greek mythology, a race of lighter, and Henry thought many animals. In The Odyssey, Circe female warriors who lived just crimes were going unpunished. changes Odysseus’ men into outside the sphere of Greece. Becket sided with the church swine. Hermes tells Odysseus how One of Heracles 12 labors was and this argument eventually to protect himself with an herb, to get the girdle of the Amazon led to Becket going into exile allowing Odysseus to make her queen, Hippolyta; another story for six years. After Henry had change the men back. He stays has Penthesilea leading an army the Young King crowned by the with Circe for a year, and she tells against the Greeks in support of archbishop of York in 1170, Becket him his journey goes through Troy, but she was killed by Achilles. and the Pope excommunicated the Underworld and how best to “I even made poor Louis take me on everybody involved. Somehow navigate the Sirens and the Scylla- Crusade. How’s that for blasphemy? Henry and Becket came to a kind Charybdis monster-whirlpool I dressed my maids as Amazons of truce, neither admitting he hazard. and rode bare-breasted halfway to was wrong, and Becket returned Damascus. Louis had a seizure …” to Canterbury in December 1170. (Eleanor, act one) But he made Henry mad again

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PEOPLE of Canterbury, for whom he height, Charlemagne’s empire became a clerk and eventually included most of modern France, Peter Abélard the archdeacon of Canterbury. Netherlands, Germany and Italy. (ca.1079-ca.1142) was a French Theobald suggested to Henry “… and ruled, for thirty years, a state philosopher, theologian, poet, that Becket would make a good as great as Charlemagne’s.” (Henry, teacher and monk. He met Heloïse, chancellor, and he assumed that act one) the niece of the clergyman at the position in 1155 and performed cathedral of Paris, in the 1110s it extremely well with Henry’s Circe when she became a private pupil. trust. The breach between Becket from Greek mythology: a sorceress They fell in love, had a son named and Henry began when Henry who could transform humans into Astrolabe and then married secretly. appointed Becket as archbishop animals. In The Odyssey, Circe Her uncle was furious, Heloïse fled of Canterbury upon Theobald’s changes Odysseus’ men into swine. to the Argenteuil convent outside death. Henry hoped that by having “… even Circe had her limits. No, Paris, and the uncle had Abélard Becket at the head of the church I never poisoned Rosamund.” castrated. Abélard then became a that he could consolidate all (Eleanor, act two) monk and made Heloïse become a power – church and state – in his nun, but both remained in or near own hands and control the church. Franks Paris. Abélard’s book Theologia, But Becket became a defender a Germanic-speaking people from was condemned as heretical in of the church and its rights, and the lower Rhine River that invaded 1121. By the 1130s he became abbot even resigned the chancellorship. the western Roman provinces in of a new community of nuns that During this time, clergy who broke the 5th century and eventually Heloïse had become the head of, the law were tried by a bishop occupied and dominated the and they put together a collection under canon law rather than by the area along the Rhine River that is of their love letters and religious state. Punishments were usually present-day Netherlands, Belgium, correspondence. He and Heloïse lighter, and Henry thought many western Germany and northern are buried side by side in Paris. crimes were going unpunished. France (from whom it gets its “I was a queen of fifteen in those Becket sided with the church name). days and on dull afternoons I’d and this argument eventually led Holy Romans go watch Heloïse watch Abélard to Becket going into exile for six a collection of lands in western and spread heresy like bonemeal in the years. After Henry had the Young central Europe that was presided palace gardens.” (Eleanor, act one) King crowned by the archbishop over first by Frankish kings, then of York in 1170, Becket and the by German kings between 800 and Amazons Pope excommunicated everybody 1806 as an inheritor of the mantle in Greek mythology, a race of involved. Henry and Becket came of the Roman Empire, and which female warriors who lived just to a kind of truce, neither admitting stood in contrast to the Byzantine outside the sphere of Greece. he was wrong, and Becket returned empire of the Eastern Orthodox One of Heracles 12 labors was to Canterbury in December 1170. Church. to get the girdle of the Amazon But he made Henry mad again, and “You’d feed us to the Franks or hand queen, Hippolyta; another story Henry made a comment about the us to the Holy Romans.” (Richard, has Penthesilea leading an army pesky Becket, which led four of act one) against the Greeks in support of his knights to believe they were Troy, but she was killed by Achilles. fulfilling his wishes when they Geoffrey, count of Anjou “I dressed my maids as Amazons murdered Becket in the Canterbury (1113-1150), Henry’s father, married and rode bare-breasted halfway to cathedral on December 29, 1170. Empress Matilda (daughter of Damascus. Louis had a seizure …” He was canonized by the Pope in Henry I, king of England) in 1128 (Eleanor, act one) February 1173. when she was 26 and he was 15. “There was no Thomas Becket then, His father Fulk V resigned the title Thomas Becket or Rosamund. No rivals — only me.” of count upon the marriage, so (1118-1170), chancellor of England (Eleanor, act one) Geoffrey became count of Anjou. (1155-62) and later archbishop Geoffrey died suddenly of a fever of Canterbury (1162-1170) during Charlemagne when Henry was 18. There is a story Henry’s reign. He was born into (ca.747-814), a king of the Franks that Geoffrey and Eleanor had an the merchant class and came to (r.768-814) and first Holy Roman affair – it’s said that Geoffrey told the notice of Theobald, archbishop Emperor (r.800-814). At its Henry about it when it became

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clear Henry was going to marry and 15-year-old Eleanor in charge Praxiteles Eleanor. Speculation would place of France. As king of France, he 4th century Greek artist, flourished the affair around 1146, was overlord to many duchies, 370-330 BCE. He improved the “do you ever wonder if I slept counties and earldoms that spread gracefulness, sensuousness and with Geoffrey?” “With my father?” throughout the continent and surface finish of Greek sculpture, (Eleanor, Henry, act one) made up a good portion of what is and his “Aphrodite of Cnidus” was modern-day France. considered the finest statue in the Henry the Young King whole world by Pliny the Elder. (1155-1183), the older brother of Louis and Eleanor’s marriage was “Ask any sculptor, ask Praxiteles, Richard, Geoffrey and John. Henry annulled in 1152 after they returned ‘Why don’t you work in butter?’” was the presumed heir for most from the Holy Land during the (Henry, act one) of his life and was crowned co- Second Crusade on grounds that king with Henry II in 1170 by the they were too closely related in Uncle Raymond archbishop of York. Henry was blood (fourth cousins), but most (ca.1110?-1149) Raymond of Antioch, crowned a second time in 1172, this likely because Eleanor hadn’t 8 to 12 years older than Eleanor, the time with his wife Marguerite being given birth to a son. Eleanor youngest sibling and only brother crowned queen as well, but he still almost immediately married Henry, of her father William X. In 1133 or didn’t get to share power with his taking the Aquitaine with her. so, King Fulk of Jerusalem offered father. The next year he started a Henry as duke of Anjou was Louis’ his ward Princess Constance of rebellion against Henry, and was vassal, but as king of England, Antioch (in modern-day Turkey) to joined by Richard, Geoffrey, Eleanor he was Louis’ equal. Louis’ reign Raymond in marriage; they married and Louis of France. He was in the was defined by his intermittent in 1136 and he became prince of midst of a second revolt, this time skirmishes and pacts with Henry. Antioch. fighting against Richard, when he “Christmas was a time of great died of dysentery on June 11, 1183. Louis married two more times: confusion for me: the Holy Land Alais is the second daughter of his had two kings, God and Uncle Henry was immature, vain, hot- second marriage; Philip, his only Raymond” (Eleanor, act two) tempered and fond of tournaments. son, was born to his third wife. And a bit ungrateful: when he “Let’s hope he’s grown up like his Rosamund de Clifford was crowned as co-king, Henry II father — simon pure and simon (?-1176/77), daughter of Sir Walter honored his son by serving him at simple. Good, good Louis …” de Clifford, a knight of Norman the coronation banquet, noting “It (Eleanor, act one) extraction who had an estate on is surely unusual to see a king wait the English border with Wales. Very upon table,” to which York agreed, Medea little is known about Rosamund “Not every prince can be served at from Greek mythology: the through contemporary sources and table by a king.” Henry the Young sorceress daughter of King Aeetus most stories have grown up in the King responded, “Certainly, it can of Colchis who helped Jason with time since. Though no start date to be no condescension for the son of his tasks to win the Golden Fleece her affair with Henry is definitively a count to serve the son of a king.” from her father then helped him known, it could be around 1165 “She knows young Henry’s dead. and his Argonauts escape. She (or maybe after Eleanor was past The Young King died in summer married Jason, had his children, but childbearing age), but it was not and I haven’t named an heir.” in Corinth Jason fell in love with publicly acknowledged until 1174. (Henry, act one) the king’s daughter and arranged Rosamund was thought to be very to marry her. He saw those plans young at the start of the affair, Louis VII derailed by a jealous Medea, who doesn’t seem to have borne him (1120-1180, r.1137-1180), king of got her revenge by killing the any children but is said to be the France, Eleanor’s first husband and princess and her own children with love of Henry’s life. Philip and Alais’ father. Louis was Jason before fleeing to Athens. the second son of Louis VI and “You are Medea to the teeth but Tales about Eleanor having became his heir when his older this is one son you won’t use poisoned Rosamund are unreliable. brother Philip died in 1131. Louis for vengeance on your husband.” Eleanor was a closely guarded married Eleanor shortly after her (Richard, act one) prisoner at the time of Rosamund’s father’s death; Louis VI died soon death, so she likely couldn’t have thereafter, leaving 17-year-old Louis done it, and the stories that she

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did arose when she was an enemy east and Aquitaine to the south. united England and Normandy of Henry and therefore a target for The castle was situated on a rocky under his rule. negative rumors. spur of higher ground that was “All of England’s land in France, “And Rosamund.” (Alais, act one) a prized strategic location since from Normandy down to the ancient times. It was one of the Spanish border, once I’m King.” PLACES Henry’s strongest fortresses and (Geoffrey, p.56) one of his favorite residences. Aquitaine He died there in 1189 after being Provence a region in southern France beaten in battle by Richard and a region of southeastern France bordering Spain and the Atlantic Philip. bordered by the Rhone River on Ocean. Charlemagne made it “My Lord. Welcome to Chinon.” the west, Mediterranean Sea on a kingdom for his son Louis in (Henry, act one) the south and Italy on the east. 781. Invasions and civil wars in At the time depicted in the play, the 800s weakened control by Damascus Provence was ruled by the Spanish Charlemagne’s descendants, so the capital of Syria, which became in Catalonia. various feudal domains asserted a Muslim city in the 7th century. “Think: on the loose in London, themselves. The count of Poitiers, The city was under the rule of winters in Provence,” (Henry, act a city in Aquitaine, secured the various Turks during the 11th one) title of duke of Aquitaine and the century, and during the Crusades, Poitier counts ruled and expanded the city endured sieges and attacks, Salisbury Tower the region so that the duchy but avoided occupation. One of Eleanor’s prisons was became one of the most influential “I even made poor Louis take me on thought to be Sarum Castle, European states. Eleanor was the Crusade. How’s that for blasphemy? near Salisbury, which dated to daughter and heir of William VIII of I dressed my maids as Amazons William the Conqueror’s time. Poitiers, duke of Aquitaine. and rode bare-breasted halfway to The stone portion of the castle “The richest woman in the Damascus.” (Eleanor, act one) dates to Henry I’s time, and world. She owns the Aquitaine, significant construction was done the greatest province on the English Channel on the castle during the time Continent…” Henry, act one) the body of water that separates that coincided with Eleanor’s southern England from northern imprisonment. But it’s possible Brittany France. After the 1173 rebellion she was moved between a series a region in northwestern France, by the boys and Eleanor, Henry II of castles in southern England, the peninsula formed by the imprisoned Eleanor in Sarum Castle including Salisbury Tower in English Channel and the Bay of near Salisbury, England. To get to Windsor Castle west of London. Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean. It Chinon, France, from her prison, “We’re launching her for Salisbury was conquered by Julius Caesar Eleanor would have to cross the Tower when the winds change. and settled by Celtic refugees English Channel. She’ll be barging down the River from Britain (thus its name) in the “How was your crossing? Did the Vienne by lunchtime.” (Henry, p.91) 6th century. It was under Frankish Channel part for you?” (Richard, control until the 9th century, then act one) under the overlordship of the Stonehenge counts of Anjou, of which Henry II Normandy a group of prehistoric standing was one. a region in northern France that stones on Salisbury Plain in “We’ve made you Duke of Brittany. borders the English Channel. It was Wiltshire in southwestern England Is that so little?” (Henry, act one) part of ancient Gaul, conquered by constructed between 3000 and Julius Caesar then by the Franks 1500 BCE. in the 5th century and by the “You’ll last. You’re like the rocks at Chinon Norsemen in the 9th. In 911, the Stonehenge; nothing knocks you a palace built by Henry II on Fort area was given to the Norseman down.” (Alais, act one) Saint-Georges near the town of Rollo, first duke of Normandy, by Chinon on the Vienne River in Charles III of France, and it’s from Vaudreuil central France. Chinon lies at the the Norsemen that it gets its name. a castle in Normandy in a valley intersection of the provinces of Norman William the Conqueror created by the confluence of the Anjou to the west, Touraine to the invaded England in 1066 and Seine and its tributary the Reuil.

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It seems to date to the Romans crowned was built by Edward the There is a legend that Eleanor at least in part, and appears to Confessor in the 11th century. and the other women dressed have been a vital link in a chain of “… at Westminster, they’ll sing out themselves as Amazons and fortresses in the region to protect Vivat Rex for someone else.” (Henry, galloped among the crowds. But no Normandy. It’s about 60 miles from act two) contemporary record of the event Paris. is recorded, so it’s likely a story “The fortress at Vaudreuil has created after the fact. dungeons down two hundred feet.” THINGS “I even made poor Louis take (Richard, p.95) me on Crusade. How’s that for chancellor blasphemy?” (Eleanor, act one) Vexin the king’s right-hand man, the a region in northern France south highest administrative and judicial excommunication of Rouen, along the Seine and official in the country, ranking a punishment in which a person is Oise rivers, which was a border above everyone except princes and not allowed to participate in the area between the kingdoms of the archbishop of Canterbury. rites of the church. Normandy (Henry’s) and France “And I’m to be his chancellor. Has he “He’s excommunicated you again.” (Philip’s). In 1077 William the told you?” (Geoffrey, act one) (Alais, act two) Conqueror, the first Norman king of England, lost his part of Christmas Courts Plantagenet the Vexin to the play’s Philip’s Christmas courts since William the surname derives from the Latin great-grandfather. Philip’s father the Conqueror were times of name (Planta genista) of the yellow Louis made the Vexin part of his great celebration from December broom plant that Henry’s father, daughter’s dowry when betrothed 25 to January 6, with feasts, Geoffrey count of Anjou, wore in to Henry’s son. Paris is about masquerades and much politicking. his hat. 25 miles from Pontoise in the Nobles invited to a Christmas “Henry Fitz-Empress, first southwestern part of the Vexin. court really couldn’t (and wouldn’t Plantagenet, a king at twenty-one, “The Vexin is a little county but it’s want to) refuse. Henry let Eleanor the ablest soldier of an able time.” vital to me.” (Henry, act one) out of prison on at least a couple (Henry, act one) occasions. Wales rhetoric an area on the west coast of the The second time came in late 1184. the art of using language to isle of Britain which in the 12th Henry made all his children join persuade and influence people, century was a collection of little him in Westminster and brought especially within the rules for kingdoms; three in particular were Eleanor out to join them, hoping eloquence as devised by ancient able to resist Norman/English she’d support his plans for their Greeks. direct rule but paid homage to the inheritances. (She refused.) This is “I’m rather proud; I taught her all king of England. the Christmas court that inspired the rhetoric she knows.” (Eleanor, “He found Miss Clifford in the mists in part the events of The Lion in act two) of Wales and brought her home for Winter. closer observation.” (Eleanor, act “Still, as long as I get trotted one) out for Christmas Courts and state occasions now and then …” Westminster (Eleanor, act one) Westminster Abbey, the church in London where the kings Crusade (and queens) of England have the Second Crusade to the been crowned since William the Holy Land began in 1147. After a Conqueror in 1066. Henry II was difficult journey that included an crowned there on December 19, attack on Louis’ army when the 1154; Richard on September 12, 1189; vanguard didn’t follow orders John on May 25, 1199. The current and an outbreak of plague, Louis building dates to the 13th through and Eleanor met her uncle Prince 16th centuries; the church in which Raymond in Antioch in Syria. the Plantagenets would have been

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From the Director: Kevin Moriarty

loving children who were positive reflections of their parents’ virtues. From “Father Knows Best” to “The Cosby Show,” this idea of an ideal family held great power for several generations.

But it wasn’t true. Beneath the seemingly placid surface of suburban life, a revolution was brewing. Within a decade much Cast of The Lion in Winter that had been oppressed or denied would burst forth into public consciousness: divorce, always liked you best!” At times The Many homosexuality, women’s liberation, you may think, “This isn’t worth it,” the counterculture rebellion, and decide to walk away from your and disillusionment toward family entirely. But we rarely follow Shades authority. Goldman saw this through. As The Lion in Winter clearly and audaciously applied demonstrates, the remarkable thing of Family it to famous historical characters, isn’t that family battles continue imagining their richly complicated year after year, but rather, that we The Lion in Winter is not relationships and psychology, keep coming home to re-engage. a history play. Despite and upending these notions of domestic harmony. There is comedy in this – which being set in 1183, featuring Goldman’s play so brilliantly characters who are all At the start of The Lion in Winter, captures – and there is tragedy, as significant figures in Henry clearly sets forth a wise well, but there is also hope. Those European history, and with political plan. If he divorces his wife, ties that bind also connect us, and, imprisons his sons and marries his through our family battles, give us a plot focused on royal mistress, he can establish peace for the possibility of experiencing love succession, history is simply generations to come. This should and discovering deeper truths about the framework that James be easy, since Henry has been in each other and ourselves. For better Goldman used to create a constant discord with his wife and or worse, we are not alone. play about more personal seemingly has little love for his sons. And yet, it turns out not to be Happy holidays from the themes. so easy for Henry or anyone else, Plantagenets! as the love for power comes into When The Lion in Winter premiered direct conflict with the power of in 1966, America was deeply love. invested in a postwar vision of the traditional nuclear family. Perhaps you can relate to this. At Throughout popular culture, this time of year many families religion and politics, the dominant gather for holiday meals, which image of the family was one led often descend into subtle (or by a gently patriarchal father not-so-subtle) battles about past and a supportive stay-at-home slights, personal identity, political mother, devoted to raising their beliefs, power and respect. “Mom

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designed by Beowulf Boritt and Comments on the Set Christopher Ash

Cast of The Lion in Winter

PHOTO: HEIDI BOHNENKAMP

Kevin mentioned how we’re going Our last scene down in the cellar, place in the upper reaches of the to be brought really far down stage when we’ve got the family trapped framework of the set. Those are all in the proscenium. There’s no apron down there for murder and individually controlled. protruding into the house: the front mayhem, we’ve got an elevator of edge of the proscenium stage is very front down center on this set Edited from comments made by the front edge of our set. We will disk that will rise above the floor stage manager Chris A. Code on use our main curtain between acts, to be the room in which that scene the first day of rehearsal. so that will be on the very edge. takes place.

The set is setup as a disk down on The backdrop is a plain cyc with a the floor. Much like Scrooge’s house bounce. We’ve got a lot of snow! in A Christmas Carol, for those who We’ve got some snow dropping have seen that, our set does rotate. machines up there, and we’ll be And what rotates downstage, using the same type of shredded as each scene progresses, is the polyethylene we use in A Christmas person’s room in which we are Carol to put snow around the set’s staging each scene. Each room is a disk. small part of this rotating set. The set will turn and put down front There are a whole lot of candles and center the room for each scene — 455 candles, all of those are we’re doing. being put together, wired and manufactured in-house and set in

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From the Costume Designer: Karen Perry

about whom I think we all wonder: November 10 cannot show up fast “Why are they acting like that? enough for me. They have money” or “Why are But with that I will close and just they acting like that they have say thank you. My week here has breeding?” I saw the movie The been absolutely amazing. The Lion in Winter before I read the colors and fabrics and I’m so happy play. I grew up in Harlem, U.S.A., so to just see a bit of the set stripped as a kid, things had to kind of come down because so much of the to me, and we did have a TV, so if it colors will be the costumes and the came through the TV then I could fabric and the actors acting and go and find it. I remember seeing their nuance. Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole and Anthony Hopkins Edited from comments made I have worked at Kevin’s theater and knowing that I was looking by Ms. Perry on the first day of in Dallas, which is how I know at something that was yes, funny, rehearsal. Kevin and how we met. We were and scandalous, but not really just doing Dreamgirls, which is a completely understanding all of it. beast, and he asked if I wanted to do this. And I was like, “Are you So in reading it, it did read a tiny serious? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I am bit different than what I saw, but available. Yes. Where? The Guthrie? the whole essence of it is still there Yes!” That was honest. I’m not because it was the same, it was faking that. the same writer. The idea that this was not Camelot, which I had also And I thought about it for a few seen, was really delicious. That’s seconds and I was like “Let me ask what made it more special to me him … are we doing this when?” than Camelot. I like Camelot, but Because I already knew Kevin’s this had teeth. This was almost reputation for where he might looking at real people, who just put things and place things, so I happened to be a king and a queen thought, “Now are we doing The and a prince and so forth. With the Lion in Winter: Empire?” (Anyone media that we have now, we look who has ever seen the TV series by behind the curtains, the closets Lee Daniels, “Empire,” you know and the bathroom doors more it is literally The Lion in Winter.) times than we even care to — we So I had to check because I didn’t see how the world really lives and know. “Okay, so am I doing it how the world really thinks than we Cookie style or …?” He said, “No. did then. For me this play is timely, No, we’re going to—” and I was like particularly during this political “Oh, okay! Good.” season. Everything I’ve seen this weekend at the Guthrie, from We Kevin talked through how the Hold These Truths to The Parchman play reflects the 1960s, that whole Hour to now this, all ties into this Americana idea of people and political era, this election season family — and privileged family, that can’t be over quick enough.

24 \ GUTHRIE THEATER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For Further Understanding

EDITIONS OF THE PLAY RELATED DRAMAS based on the book by Robert K. Massie. Franklin J. Schaffner, The Lion in Winter: A Play by Becket by Jean Anouilh director. Michael Jayston, Janet James Goldman, New York: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot Suzman, Michael Redgrave, Random House, 1966 King John by William Shakespeare Laurence Olivier, Irene Worth, Brian Cox and Ian Holm. 1971 The Lion in Winter: A Comedy in TWELFTH-CENTURY HISTORY Two Acts by James Goldman, New They Might be Giants, screenplay York: Samuel French, 1966. Bartlett, Robert, England Under by James Goldman. Anthony the Norman and Angevin Kings: Harvey, director. George C. Scott, ALSO BY JAMES GOLDMAN 1075-1225, New York: Clarendon Joanne Woodward, Jack Gilford Press, 2000 and Rue McClanahan. 1971 For the theater Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole, Jones, Dan, The Plantagenets: The Robin and Marian, screenplay by a comedy with in three acts, by Warrior Kings and Queens Who James Goldman. An aging Robin James Goldman and William Made England, New York: Penguin, Hood returns from the crusades to Goldman, New York: Dramatists 2012 woo Maid Marian. Richard Lester, Play Service, 1962 director. Sean Connery, Audrey Kelly, Amy, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Hepburn and Robert Shaw. 1976 A Family Affair, a musical by the Four Kings, Cambridge, Mass.: James Goldman, William Goldman Harvard University Press, 1950 Oliver Twist, screenplay by and John Kander, 1962 James Goldman, adapted from Weir, Alison, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Dickens novel. Clive Donner, Follies: a musical, book by James New York: Ballantine Books, 1999 director. George C. Scott, Tim Goldman, music and lyrics by Curry, Richard Charles and Cherie Stephen Sondheim, New York: Gies, Joseph and Frances Gies, Lunghi. 1982 Random House, 1971 Life in a Medieval Castle, New York: Harper & Row, 1979 White Nights, screenplay by They Might Be Giants, New York: James Goldman and Eric Hughes. Lancer Books, 1970 FILM/TELEVISION Taylor Hackford, director. Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Tolstoy, 1996 Evening Primrose, book by James Mirren, Geraldine Page, Isabella Goldman, music and lyrics by Rossellini and John Glover. 1985 Novels Stephen Sondheim. A group of Fulton County: a novel, New York: people live in a department store. Anna Karenina, screenplay by Morrow, 1989 Paul Bogart, director. Anthony James Goldman, based on the Perkins as Charles Snell, Charmian Tolstoy novel. Simon Langton, The Man from Greek and Roman, a Carr as Ella Harkins. 1966 director. Jacqueline Bisset, novel, New York: Random House, Christopher Reeve and Paul 1974 The Lion in Winter, screenplay by Scofield. 1985 James Goldman. Anthony Harvey, Myself as Witness, London: H. director. Katharine Hepburn as The Lion in Winter, screenplay Hamilton, 1980 Eleanor of Aquitaine, Peter O’Toole by James Goldman. Andrey as Henry II, Anthony Hopkins as Konchalovsky, director. Glenn Waldorf, New York: Random Richard, Timothy Dalton as Philip. Close, Patrick Stewart, Andrew House, 1965 1968 Howard and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. 2003 Nicholas and Alexandra, screenplay by James Goldman,

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