Theatre--Performance

 (From left to right, from the top:  Thomas Owens as Richard, Jonathan Parich as Geoffery, Elliot Leitner as Phillip, Travis Guillory as John, Kristen Hebert as Alais, Vincent P. Barras as Henry, and Carmen Nicholson as Eleanor)

 Vincent P. Barras and Carmen Nicholson

Kristen Hebert and Vincent P. Barras

Iberia Performing Arts League will present The Lion in Winter by James Goldman as its second offering in its 2010-11 season.  An adult comedy/drama, the show opens at IPAL’s Essanee Theater in New Iberia on Saturday, October 16, 2010, and plays for three weekends, closing on Sunday, October 31, 2010. Curtain is at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings and 3:00 PM on Sunday afternoons. Tickets are $10 and may be obtained at Delaune’s Pharmacy, Paul’s Flowers, Accentrics on Main Street or by calling the theater at 364-6114 and leaving a name and phone number.

Directed by Mac Stearns, the production stars IPAL veterans Vincent Barras as Henry II and Carmen Nicholson as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Their three sons are portrayed by Thomas Owens as Richard, Jonathan Parich as Geoffrey and Travis Guillory as John. Kristen Hebert plays Alais and Elliot Leitner rounds out the cast as Philip, King of France.

The play originally opened on Broadway in 1966 and won a “Tony” for Rosemary Harris. The author then wrote the screenplay for the movie of the same name starring Katharine Hepburn, Peter O’Toole and Anthony Hopkins. The movie received seven Academy Award nominations and took home three “Oscars” including Best Actress for Hepburn.

The director of this classic production, Mac Stearns, describes the play as the prequel to the story of Robin Hood. In Christmas, 1183, Henry II controls all of England and half of France but is unable to control his family. He is joined at his palace by his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine whom he has imprisoned for 10 years. Also present are their three sons, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey, and John,  Henry’s mistress Princess Alais, and her younger brother, Philip Capet, King of France. Conflict, comedy, scheming and shifting alliances between all those involved provide a riveting theatrical experience.
    
For questions or additional information contact Mac Stearns at 365-8898, call the theater at 364-6114, or e-mail ipal@cox.net.