The Lion in Winter

About the Show

You think your family is dysfunctional? England’s King Henry II has three sons by Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he keeps locked up so she can’t interfere. Henry wants the kingdom to stay united after his death, but all three sons want to rule and the kingdom is likely to be torn apart. Henry favors the youngest son; Eleanor favors the eldest. The middle son hopes to play both ends against each other and come out on top. Eleanor knows Henry wants another heir by his mistress, which would only add to the problems. The king and queen cannot get along with each other or their sons, and the resulting showdowns make for a tragic comedy that reminds us that even in the most regal of families there is always plenty to fight about.