T’was late in November and all through the Quads, stirring about were theatre squads; acting and lighting, performers and crews; The Black Box Theatre called on its muse.On Mahr, on Adams, on Walsh and on Henning.On Lund, on Holdridge on Lamb and on Hill.Your show is worthy of a Broadway Playbill.
Closing out the 2025 Quad City theatre season of holiday offerings is The Black Box Theatre’s production of James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter, directed by Noah Hill.This immensely well-written script is full of drama, intrigue, and some of the most clever dialog you’ll ever hear on stage.
This is the tale of King Henry II’s and his queen’s, Eleanor of Aquitaine, power struggle during 1183’s Christmas court at Chinon castle over the aging Henry’s choice of who will succeed him.His first son and presumptive heir, also Henry, has recently died. Henry has temporarily released Eleanor from her 10-year imprisonment for fomenting an insurrection against him.Also in attendance are their three remaining sons who are in fierce contention to be named Henry’s new heir: Richard (known to us as “the Lionheart”), Geoffrey, and John (later of Magna Carta fame), as well as Princess Alais of France, who has been raised at Henry’s court ever since her betrothal to Richard at the age of 8 and who is now Henry’s mistress, and her half-brother King Phillip. Who will achieve checkmate in this high stakes game of very real chess?
Hill has assembled a stellar cast of some of the most accomplished Quad Cities actors.Taking on the aging but virile Henry is the bigger than life Jeremy Mahr who masters the ever-calculating king.As the hot-tempered Eleanor who schemes against Henry while also loving him intensely is BBT’s own Lora Adams who commands the role reflecting the authority and presence of the still influential monarch.
The three sons are portrayed by Matt Walsh as Richard, Tyler Henning as Geoffrey, and Jacob Lund as John.Walsh perfectly embodies the Lionheart, Henning nails the brains of the trio and Lund the petulant, entitled brat. Walsh and Henning live up to their impressive credits and I was extremely impressed with Lund who I have watched develop and improve in every role he’s taken on over the last few years.
Rounding out the cast as the angst-ridden Princess Alais and haughty King Phillip are the talented Kassidy Holdridge and Thayne Lamb. I’ve made no secret of my admiration of Lamb’s proficiency and he certainly does not disappoint here; my admiration for Holdridge grows with every role she takes on. However, I would have liked to see some variety in her facial expressions during this show.
Many of you know that projection and anachronisms are my two “pet peeves.” Some of you may also be familiar with the1968 film version of Lion starring Peter O’Toole and Katherine Hepburn. In it, dialogue was spirited and lightening fast; this production is far quieter and sedate – to the point that even in the first row I often was unable to hear the lines, especially in the more intimate scenes. Also, in this production AND the film version, for that matter, a Christmas tree was employed to suggest the holiday season...except Christmas trees were not known in England until the 19th century when introduced by Queen Victoria’s Prince Consort, Albert. One more observation, John, a teenager, is described in the script as “pimply and smelling of compost.”Some fake acne would have made him all the more believable.
Despite those blips, to thunderous acclaim cast and crew took applause and it had nothing to do with the elf, Santa Claus.
The Lion in Winter continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Satuday November 28 and 29 and December 4, 5, 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m.