Starlight Dinner Theatre’s Lion in Winter is even BETTER than the stellar show we saw a year and a half ago, before its second weekend was cancelled by the COVID shutdown.
It seems Kevin and Tanya Burnham were born to play these “bucket list” roles — and the looo-o-o-o-ng time “between weekends” has only given these characters time to simmer and evolve to an exceptional level of sincerity and intensity. The love/hate competitive relationship of these two is a joy to watch, as they jockey to established different favored-sons as the next in line to the throne.
The First Christian Church location is also an improvement. The thrust-stage/in-the-round sanctuary surrounds the versatile revolving-wall, chairs/table set with a backdrop of stained glass, and is more up-close-and-personal than the proscenium stage at Waverly Intermediate School. It also gives us a closer look at the costumes, which are magnificent. (Kudos, Costumer Lee Helder!) Evocative period music blends the scene changes into an integrated whole. (Sound design: Darryl Schmitz)
The rest of the cast gives good support to these stars, directed by Richard Redman and, as always, facilitated by Linda Granger. Returning from 2020 are Malachi Cates as youngest son John, and Robert McCleery as bully son Richard. New for 2021 are Caleb Tracy as scheming son Goeffrey, Wyatt Wesley as French King Philip, and Emily Stokes as Alais, pulled between her roles as consort to the king and potential bride to his sons.
There are only TWO shows left. It may be too late to reserve for dinner - 6:30 Friday night; show at 7:30; or dessert -1:30 Saturday afternoon; show at 2pm. (By the way, dessert was a lovely plate of cheesecake bites and baklava served in a separate church dining room.) Phone 517-599-2799 for reservations or to find out if dinner/dessert are still available.
BUT there ARE plenty of tickets available at the door for “show only” $15 ($14 sr./student) Friday show 7:30; Saturday matinee 2pm. Nov. 19-20. First Christian Church is at 1001 Chester Rd, Lansing, MI 48912. Chester is just west of the Sparrow medical building northwest of Frandor. Two blocks north and you’re there. Park/enter on the north side of the building. If you love this script, or have never seen it — be there.
http://www.starlightdinnertheatre.com