THEATER REVIEWS : Humor Crowns a Charming ‘Lion in Winter’

A charming, original, medieval-flavored score by Randy Woltz sets a perfect mood for the carryings-on of royals on the outs in the Irvine Valley College production of James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter.”

It would help if Woltz’s lyrics didn’t presume to explain to the audience what they’re watching, even though the idea, and the mood, are admirable.

Also admirable is Jim Rynning’s spare, evocative setting and his often painterly lighting. It’s a good framework for Goldman’s wickedly witty examination of political chicanery at the Christmas court of Henry II, one of those rare occasions when the king lets his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, out of prison and gathers his three greedy princelings for the slicing up of the royal pie.

Goldman’s sense of humor infiltrates every moment of the play, and director Jon Sidoli finds most of those moments. Where he misses is in not keeping a tighter rein on Mark Eli Talley as Henry.

Talley hasn’t found the fun in Henry, the sly wisdom and the sense of kidding that make the role breathe. He lumbers about, blustering and growling and taking dramatic flights where wistful resignation would serve better. Henry knows the game he’s playing. Talley makes Henry take it too seriously.

It’s an odd Henry to contrast with Teri Ciranna’s brittle, savvy Eleanor. Ciranna uncovers the fun in the disenfranchised queen, along with her humanity and heroism. She’s a delight, which makes it a mystery what she ever saw in Talley’s disagreeable, grumbling sovereign.

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Their sons--the future King Richard (Todd C. Mooney), the political opportunist Geoffrey (Jack Millis) and the future King John (Michael Miller), the one who signed the Magna Carta--are all given well-delineated performances.

Mooney’s cloddish, militaristic older brother has a good hard edge; Millis is particularly bright as the conniving Geoffrey, and Miller’s 17-year-old “walking pustule” John stands out in Miller’s comic understanding of the petulant, spoiled brat who thinks the world owes him a living.

Heather Bryant’s intelligent, ambitious French princess Alais, who is Henry’s mistress and another pawn in the royal games, is impressive. Mark Perkins is an almost likable, though still properly snotty, teen-age French King Philip.

Part of the fun of “Lion in Winter” is Goldman’s anachronistic use of modern colloquialism to approximate how people really spoke in the play’s period. It makes the regal tilting accessible, and makes somewhat amusing Eleanor’s apology that “after all, it’s 1183 and we’re barbarians.”

* “The Lion in Winter,” Irvine Valley College Forum Theatre, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends March 28. $8; (714) 559-3333. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

Teri Ciranna: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Mark Eli Talley: King Henry II

Todd C. Mooney: Prince Richard

Jack Millis: Prince Geoffrey

Michael Miller: Prince John

Heather Bryant: Alais

Mark Perkins: King Philip

Carlos Felix: Troubadour

Susan McGrew: Troubadour

Robyn Phelps: Troubadour

An Irvine Valley College Theatre production of the James Goldman play. Directed by Jon Sidoli. Set and lighting: Jim Rynning. Costumes: Charles Castagno. Original music: Randy Woltz. Choreography: Susan McGrew.