ENTERTAINMENT__________________________________ The Prince George's Post, Thursday, January 19, 1984 Page thirteen

 "The Lion In Winter"
At The Publick Playhouse

By Sharon Kennedy

The Muses' Rage Production Company has opened with "The Lion in Winter,' the second production of their "Royal Season." Since the company has a sizeable following from its musical production,"The Lion in Winter" is a unique shift for company members.

Ron Wilder, who spends most of his lime as Muses' Rage's public relations director, took a turn as director of "The Lion in Winter." Wilder is sensitive to his regal characters: Henry II, King of England; Henry's mistress Alais, a French princess; Henry's wife, the 61-year-old Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; Henry's three sons John, Geoffrey and Richard Lionhearted; and Philip, King of France.

Under Wilder's direction, G. W. Meredith, Jr., as Henry II smoothly moves from temperamental rages to romantic moments with mistress Alais. In another scene, the Queen Eleanor goads Henry into kissing mistress Alais in front of her. Tearll gJl:Hen In Eleanor's (Rae Wein's) eyes as she realizes that she no longer has the youthful beauty of Alais. Seeking the solitude of her room, Queen Eleanor, in a silent pantomime, puts on all her jewelry to recall her youthful beauty.

Praise be to the leaders of women's rights today. During Henry II's reign, the curtain opens with Queen Eleanor's return to Henry and her family after 10 years in Henry's keep. Her values to Henry are her property and her skill at giving birth to sons. Eleanor and Henry plot to outwit one another in a divisiveness over their sons, who will inherit Henry's kingdom.

While Eleanor favors 26-year-old Richard Lionhearted to hold the Aquitaine-and Alais-Henry remains steadfast in John's favor.
Now Alais is part of Henry's household by terms of a treaty with Philip, King of France. This requires Richard's marry!og Alais, or the country of Vexin is returned to France.

Of course, Henry· wants to keep both Alais and the Vexin for himself.

Henry's sons-Richard Lionhearted (Rogers Fuller), an impressively regal soldier; John (Scott Miller), at "sweet 16" a teenager striving for adulthood; and Geoffrey (Steve Fogle), at 25 an astute manager of his affairs, are well cast. They keep a fresh and comic dichotomy among each other for their interest and skill to run Henry's kingdom.

While playwright James Goldman alludes to lively battles, the focus is on the emotional battle and truce-seeking lines exchanged amonag characters.

The cast Is skilled in accentuating the wit and rhythm to lines such as, "Henry's bed is Henry's province," and "three prizes for three sons; the throne, the princess, and the Aquitaine.'i Eleanor quips that the day Henry annuls their marriage will be the day pigs have wings and we see pork in trees.

From the entrancing harpsichord to the emotional battle of words, the characters lure one's attention.