‘The Lion’ roars into Newport Beach

Young Chang

In the hills just above Coast Highway, among generous stands of trees

and even more generous Newport Beach homes, a small community theater

feels as cold as you would imagine King Henry II’s English castle to be.

Black curtains separate a view of the contemporary neighborhood from

the royal world within the Newport Theatre Arts Center’s walls. An early

fall breeze sweeps in because it’s evening, and the stone-like set design

makes you feel the chill, hear the echo.

It’s an intimate space -- comfortable enough for nearby residents to

claim as their community theater yet confident enough to take on the

dramatic James Goldman play “The Lion in Winter,” which will run through

Oct. 21.

Actor Tony Forsyth drives cross-county from Los Angeles just to play

the male lead, King Henry II. He doesn’t mind the commute. Who wouldn’t

go the distance for this role?

“He lives big, he loves big, he grieves deeply, he embraces life,” the

actor said of his character. “The most important thing for me is that I’m

honest” in portraying him.

Forsyth only stepped in a few weeks ago, when the original actor cast

as King Henry II couldn’t make it to Costa Mesa from Canada because of

the problems with air travel after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the

World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But Forsyth’s history with the role

-- he played the king six years ago -- made up for rehearsal time lost.

Set in 1183, “The Lion in Winter” tells the story of King Henry II,

his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons Richard, Geoffrey and John.

The king wants John to take over the crown, the queen wants Richard to

succeed the throne, and Geoffrey suffers the typical middle-child

syndrome of being ignored.

They fight and deceive and plot, as royal families with tons of power

might do. The actors deftly carry out the large drama, albeit on a small

stage.

“The language and drama are witty,” said Teri Ciranna, an Irvine

resident who will play Eleanor for the production. “It’s very clever,

with an intellectual kind of writing.”

She describes Eleanor as one of the most powerful women in Europe

during the time.

“It’s very hard playing a legend,” Ciranna laughs. “It’s a little much

of a stretch, but that’s OK.”

The actress, who is a Royal Academy of Dramatic Art alumna, has also

acted in London’s Weekly Repertory. But Ciranna says she likes community

theater. The roles are better, the schedules are manageable, and she gets

to have a life, she says.

Forsyth also supports community theater. Audience members can feel a

comfort that comes with being so close to the stage, and the

accessibility of the theater makes it audience-friendly, he said.

“And, there’s not a bad seat in the house,” Forsyth added.

FYI

WHAT: “Lion in Winter”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Runs

through Oct. 21.

WHERE: Newport Theatre Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach

COST: $13

CALL: (949) 631-0288