The original 1966 Broadway production of '''James Goldman's''' '''''The Lion In Winter''''' ran just less than 100 performances in New York at The Ambassador Theatre. Even with some superb notices and acclaimed performances by a wonderful '''Robert Preston''' as King Henry II of England and a dazzling '''Rosemary Harris''' as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine ( for which she would score a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress In A Play ), even with a gifted young supporting actor named '''Christopher Walken''' ( a future Oscar Winner ) as King Phillip of France, '''Goldman's critically-praised script''' with a polished and praised Broadway staging ( by Best Director Tony Nominee '''Noel Willman''' ) lasted less than 100 performances on The Great White Way. It was only a few years later, in 1969, when '''James Goldman captured an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay''' for the 1968 film version of his work interpreted by incredible Best Actor Oscar Nominee '''Peter O'Toole''' as King Henry II and amazing Best Actress Oscar Winner '''Katherine Hepburn''' as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine, that suddenly ( in The Theatre World! ), every stage performer that was a character actor or character actress worth his or her salt wanted to be in '''Goldman's great, biting, dysfunctional family drama ( and dark comedy ) of the verbal war-waging Plantagenets at Yuletide.''' There have been numerous highly-effective and successful stage and screen renderings of '''Goldman's most acclaimed stage play''' mounted around the U.S. and Europe during the last five decades. One that might be of interest is Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder and Joseph Jefferson Citation Award-winning Principal Actor
The original 1966 Broadway production of '''James Goldman's''' '''''The Lion In Winter''''' ran just less than 100 performances in New York at The Ambassador Theatre. Even with some superb notices and acclaimed performances by a wonderful '''Robert Preston''' as King Henry II of England and a dazzling '''Rosemary Harris''' as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine ( for which she would score a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress In A Play ), even with a gifted young supporting actor named '''Christopher Walken''' ( a future Oscar Winner ) as King Phillip of France, '''Goldman's critically-praised script''' with a polished and praised Broadway staging ( by Best Director Tony Nominee '''Noel Willman''' ) lasted less than 100 performances on The Great White Way. It was only a few years later, in 1969, when '''James Goldman captured an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay''' for the 1968 film version of his work interpreted by incredible Best Actor Oscar Nominee '''Peter O'Toole''' as King Henry II and amazing Best Actress Oscar Winner '''Katherine Hepburn''' as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine, that suddenly ( in The Theatre World! ), every stage performer that was a character actor or character actress worth his or her salt wanted to be in '''Goldman's great, biting, dysfunctional family drama ( and dark comedy ) of the verbal war-waging Plantagenets at Yuletide.''' There have been numerous highly-effective and successful stage and screen renderings of '''Goldman's most acclaimed stage play''' mounted around the U.S. and Europe during the last five decades. One that might be of interest is Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder and Joseph Jefferson Citation Award-winning Principal Actor
'''Darryl Maximilian Robinson's''' 1992 non-Equity professional, multiracial cast rendition of the work presented under the banner of '''Excaliber Productions, Ltd. of Chicago''' at the intimate and lively '''Wabash Triangle Cafe''' in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Robinson ( critically-praised for his 1984 St. Louis stage performances as Sir Thomas More in Director '''John Grassilli's''' staging of '''Robert Bolt's ''A Man For All Seasons''''' at '''The University of Missouri-St. Louis' UMSL Benton Hall Theatre''' and as The Cowardly Lion in '''The Theatre Project Company's''' traditional musical version of '''''The Wizard of Oz''''' staged by Director '''Deborah Lynn Wickes''' at '''The New City School''' ) directed and starred as King Henry II opposite a talented and racially-diverse cast that included '''Anna Altman''' and '''Deborah Phillips''' alternating in the role of Queen Eleanor, '''Carey S. Means''' ( a future popular animated film voice-over performer ) and '''Albert Stephens''' alternating in the role of Prince Richard the Lionheart, '''Patrick B. Hensler''' as Prince Geoffrey, '''Phillip Alexis Watt''' as Prince John, '''Louis A. Wells''' as King Phillip of France and '''Anjula Chan''' ( who skillfully designed the 12th-century costumes ) as Princess Alais. Of all of his creative and artistic endeavors during his five years of producing, directing and performing plays for audiences '''under the Excaliber banner''' in The Gateway City, '''Darryl Maximilian Robinson''' considers his work ( as an actor and director ) in '''James Goldman's''' '''''The Lion In Winter''''' a true career highlight!
'''Darryl Maximilian Robinson's''' 1992 non-Equity professional, multiracial cast rendition of the work presented under the banner of '''Excaliber Productions, Ltd. of Chicago''' at the intimate and lively '''Wabash Triangle Cafe''' in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Robinson ( critically-praised for his 1984 St. Louis stage performances as Sir Thomas More in Director '''John Grassilli's''' staging of '''Robert Bolt's ''A Man For All Seasons''''' at '''The University of Missouri-St. Louis' UMSL Benton Hall Theatre''' and as The Cowardly Lion in '''The Theatre Project Company's''' traditional musical version of '''''The Wizard of Oz''''' staged by Director '''Deborah Lynn Wickes''' at '''The New City School''' ) directed and starred as King Henry II opposite a talented and racially-diverse cast that included '''Anna Altman''' and '''Deborah Phillips''' alternating in the role of Queen Eleanor, '''Carey S. Means''' ( a future popular animated film voice-over performer ) and '''Albert Stephens''' alternating in the role of Prince Richard the Lionheart, '''Patrick B. Hensler''' as Prince Geoffrey, '''Phillip Alexis Watt''' as Prince John, '''Louis A. Wells''' as King Phillip of France and '''Anjula Chan''' ( who skillfully designed the 12th-century costumes ) as Princess Alais. Of all of his creative and artistic endeavors during his five years of producing, directing and performing plays for audiences '''under the Excaliber banner''' in The Gateway City, '''Darryl Maximilian Robinson''' considers his work ( as an actor and director ) in '''James Goldman's''' '''''The Lion In Winter''''' a true career highlight!
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''This theatre article is presented in appreciation of the fine and committed work of all of Excaliber Productions, Ltd. Company Members of St. Louis, Missouri and as part of '''The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project.'''''
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Revision as of 03:22, 7 November 2019
"Excaliber Production's presentation of James Goldman's The Lion In Winter comes through without a hitch at The Wabash Triangle Café in University City. Though the play ran a bit long, the cast did quite well, with a few minor exceptions. Darryl Maximilian Robinson's portrayal of King Henry II is a balanced and finely measured combination of greed, deceit and compassion...Darryl Maximilian Robinson's staging and direction ( he is the founder and mainstay of this troupe ) work cleanly through an excellent script. I favor the simple set design of black wooden thrones and benches; it allows the actors to do their work without getting in the way. It's an entertaining show overall, one I'd recommend seeing." -- Mark Hamilton, Intermission Magazine, St. Louis Edition, Jan. 1993.
Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder Darryl Maximilian Robinson Had A Career Highlight Directing And Playing King Henry II in A 1992 Staging of James Goldman's Acclaimed Royal Family Drama The Lion In Winter With A Gifted and Talented Young Multiracial Excaliber Productions, Ltd. of Chicago Cast At The Wabash Triangle Café In St. Louis!
The original 1966 Broadway production of James Goldman'sThe Lion In Winter ran just less than 100 performances in New York at The Ambassador Theatre. Even with some superb notices and acclaimed performances by a wonderful Robert Preston as King Henry II of England and a dazzling Rosemary Harris as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine ( for which she would score a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress In A Play ), even with a gifted young supporting actor named Christopher Walken ( a future Oscar Winner ) as King Phillip of France, Goldman's critically-praised script with a polished and praised Broadway staging ( by Best Director Tony Nominee Noel Willman ) lasted less than 100 performances on The Great White Way. It was only a few years later, in 1969, when James Goldman captured an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the 1968 film version of his work interpreted by incredible Best Actor Oscar Nominee Peter O'Toole as King Henry II and amazing Best Actress Oscar Winner Katherine Hepburn as Queen Eleanor of the Aquitaine, that suddenly ( in The Theatre World! ), every stage performer that was a character actor or character actress worth his or her salt wanted to be in Goldman's great, biting, dysfunctional family drama ( and dark comedy ) of the verbal war-waging Plantagenets at Yuletide. There have been numerous highly-effective and successful stage and screen renderings of Goldman's most acclaimed stage play mounted around the U.S. and Europe during the last five decades. One that might be of interest is Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago Founder and Joseph Jefferson Citation Award-winning Principal Actor
Darryl Maximilian Robinson's 1992 non-Equity professional, multiracial cast rendition of the work presented under the banner of Excaliber Productions, Ltd. of Chicago at the intimate and lively Wabash Triangle Cafe in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Robinson ( critically-praised for his 1984 St. Louis stage performances as Sir Thomas More in Director John Grassilli's staging of Robert Bolt's A Man For All Seasons at The University of Missouri-St. Louis' UMSL Benton Hall Theatre and as The Cowardly Lion in The Theatre Project Company's traditional musical version of The Wizard of Oz staged by Director Deborah Lynn Wickes at The New City School ) directed and starred as King Henry II opposite a talented and racially-diverse cast that included Anna Altman and Deborah Phillips alternating in the role of Queen Eleanor, Carey S. Means ( a future popular animated film voice-over performer ) and Albert Stephens alternating in the role of Prince Richard the Lionheart, Patrick B. Hensler as Prince Geoffrey, Phillip Alexis Watt as Prince John, Louis A. Wells as King Phillip of France and Anjula Chan ( who skillfully designed the 12th-century costumes ) as Princess Alais. Of all of his creative and artistic endeavors during his five years of producing, directing and performing plays for audiences under the Excaliber banner in The Gateway City, Darryl Maximilian Robinson considers his work ( as an actor and director ) in James Goldman'sThe Lion In Winter a true career highlight!
This theatre article is presented in appreciation of the fine and committed work of all of Excaliber Productions, Ltd. Company Members of St. Louis, Missouri and as part of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project.
Note: The multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre, The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago is pleased, proud and honored to share and present this archival article as part of The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project, in acknowledgement of 2019: The Year of Chicago Theatre!, and in appreciation and gratitude to the talented and committed St. Louis actors, actresses, designers and crew members who worked on Excaliber Productions, Ltd. of Chicago shows in The Great Gateway City from 1990 through 1994. Best Regards, Much Continued Success and God Bless!