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<DIV align=left><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>Reprinted below with permission
from Leader Publications is David Ritchey's REVIEW of the show from the Oct. 18
edition </FONT></FONT><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>of "The West Side
Leader":</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=text23><FONT face=Arial size=2>'Dynamite" cast
featured in Weathervane production</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<P><SPAN class=text23><FONT face=Arial size=2>By David Ritchey </FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>MERRIMAN VALLEY — Weathervane
Community Playhouse is staging “The Lion in Winter” through Oct. 28.
</FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>The play is based on King Henry II
(1133-1189), who is only 50 years old in 1183 when “The Lion in Winter” takes
place. Henry has three adult sons who are disappointments. He imprisons his wife
to protect himself and his throne, and he worries about maintaining the kingdom
after his death. </FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, this family has
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>difficulties. With
therapy and counseling, most families get beyond their problems and live almost
happily ever after. But the family in “The Lion in Winter” has more problems
than most contemporary dysfunctional families have to overcome.
<BR></FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>In 1966, playwright James Goldman
(1929-98) received an Academy Award for the film script for “The Lion in
Winter.” Katharine Hepburn received an Academy Award for the film. And Peter
O’Toole lost, again. </FONT></SPAN>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>“The Lion in Winter” is
</SPAN><SPAN class=text85>the fictional account of King Henry’s family
celebration at Christmas in 1183 in his palace in Chinon, France. This is a
Christmas celebration like no other. </SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>Henry (Dick Reiss) has
permitted his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Dede Klein), out of imprisonment to
attend the family gathering. Their sons — Richard “the Lion Hearted” (Derrick
Winger), John (Andrew Morton) and Geoffrey (Scott Shriner) — are in attendance.
He also has his lady friend Alais (Amanda Davis) at the celebration.
</SPAN><SPAN class=text85>Their guest is King Philip of France (Jason Davis).
</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chess seems the metaphor for this
production. Several of Goldman’s lines have chess-like references. For example,
Alais refers to herself as a pawn. And at the end of several scenes, characters
make comments about having won or lost. </FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>The actors play this script like a
tight, fast, well-fought chess match. <BR></FONT></SPAN>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>A large crown, based on the
crown on Henry II’s death mask, is suspended above the playing area. This crown
never lets the </SPAN><SPAN class=text85>audience forget what is at stake.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>In addition to the crown, Alan
Scott Ferrall (scenic design/technical director) and his crew of volunteers
created a set of six trellis-like arches that the cast members move about to
reconfigure the playing area. This transparent set provides plenty of room for
furniture and for the movement. <BR></FONT></SPAN>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>Jenna Bates (costume design)
and her crew brought fairly authentic costumes to the stage. However, Alais
plays some scenes without shoes and in </SPAN><SPAN class=text85>a short-sleeve
gown in an airy, stone castle. In 12th century England and France, people would
have worn plenty of layers of clothing to fight off the cold, damp winters.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>But let no one doubt what
this production is about — the script. Director Rohn Thomas keeps the focus on
the story and permits the story to unfold in chess-like moves. As one character
makes a move, another counters it. Thomas helped each performer develop a
distinct, functional character. Henry and Eleanor have three </SPAN><SPAN
class=text85>adult sons and each is as different as can be. Thomas would be an
excellent addition to Weathervane’s roster of directors. </SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>Watching Reiss and Klein
work together is exciting. These two excellent performers take the stage and
pull out all of the emotional stops. Reiss makes Henry, at 50, still desperate
to hold onto the crown and make sure the heir to the throne will keep England
united and, </SPAN><SPAN class=text85>perhaps, add to the size of the kingdom.
As a lion who has reached the winter of his life, he wants to take the young
Alais as his wife or his mistress. But to stabilize the royal power, he
threatens to force Richard to marry her. </SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>Klein is in her top acting form in
this production. She has excellent comedic acting skills and can toss off a line
and earn the laugh. She is regal and controlled and in the next
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>moment desperate and
emotional. Don’t go to this production expecting to see Hepburn. Klein has made
Eleanor her own. Klein has the intelligence and wit to make this one of the best
performances of her career. <BR></FONT></SPAN>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=text85>However, Reiss and Klein
could not have achieved this superior level of work without their on-stage
chemistry and the support of the dynamite supporting cast. The cast creates an
ensemble </SPAN><SPAN class=text85>production. They share the stage and each in
his and her turn dazzles the audience. </SPAN></FONT></FONT>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is what good theater is
about. <BR></FONT></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text85><FONT face=Arial size=2>Local audiences will want to see
this production to watch some special acting, directing, set design and
construction. “The Lion in Winter” is on stage through Oct. 28, a short run for
such an outstanding production. For tickets, call (330) 836-2626 [or connect to
weathervaneplayhouse.com].</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=text15><BR></SPAN>
<P><SPAN class=text15><FONT face=Arial size=2>David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in
communications and is a professor of communications at The University of Akron.
He is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN class=text15><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </P>
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