The Post-Standard News
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February 28, 1998
Section: CNY
Edition: Metro
Page: E6

With the Winter Olympics fresh in mind, it's easy to describe "The Lion in Winter" - a great, exhilarating bobsled run, 
filled with speed, excitement and flirtations with disaster.

At the end of the run, you haven't exactly arrived anywhere, but it's a trip you remember! Appleseed Theater's production, 
set in the medieval court of Henry II, is filled with dazzling verbal pyrotechnics, wit and strong character portrayals.

It begins with a lovely silhouette vista of archways and period music of tabor, fife and viols.

But once the action starts, Bob Greene's crackling direction and the cast's performances pull the audience into the 
drama of life in the medieval fast - very fast - lane.

Henry II (J. F. Briere) is King of England. He keeps his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Kathryn Briere), locked up because 
she has led wars against him.

They scheme and counter-scheme over which of their sons will inherit the throne. But more basically, Henry and 
Eleanor need each other as enemies and are never more alive than when they are battling, opening old wounds and new.

J. F. Briere gives a relaxed, many-sided portrait of a powerful man who takes joy in his ability to cheat, bamboozle and 
betray as he juggles provinces and people like toys. "Master bastard" is his term of self-admiration.

Kathryn Briere matches him as Eleanor, one of history's great figures of glamour. Now aged and with diminished 
resources, Eleanor can still fight Henry to a standstill, even as she recalls the passion of their first meeting.

"He had a mind like Aristotle," she rhapsodizes, "and a form like mortal sin."

This royal family gives new meaning to the word "dysfunctional," with each one set against all the others.

The three sons are lightly and effectively cartooned, so they're easy to keep straight in the swirl of counterplotting. All 
are vying for the crown, and not to win can be fatal.

Prince Richard (Dale Fennessy) is tall, arrogant and blond, a warrior always posing for pictures that will be captioned 
"The Lion-Hearted."

Prince John (Joseph Reddick) is petulant, insecure and childish.

Prince Geoffrey (Eric Feldstein), a cold-blooded schemer, looks rather like the villain in the film "Aladdin."

Susan Tromans brings precision and sharp focus to the role of Alais, Henry's young mistress; and Trevor Hill is an 
insolent Phillip, the young King of France who gets tested by Henry.

Jennifer Perkins' costumes are graceful and colorful. The main acting area is set on the floor, close up to the audience's 
tables, and all sightlines are good.

The details

What: "The Lion in Winter," presented by Appleseed Productions Friday night.
Where: Atonement Lutheran Stage, 116 W. Glen Ave., Syracuse.
Performance time: 2 hours, 20 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Attendance: About 40.
Length of run: through March 14; tickets $8 to $10; call 492-9766.
Family guide: Suitable for high school ages and older.

Copyright (c), 1998, The Herald Company