It’s February 9, 2018, 7:30 am. I’m going from the store with some food supplies for the day to the Petákova Street. The bus is already here but not opened yet. I wait for my schoolmates and have breakfast. It is freezing outside so I go and hide at the school. After a while, people start to gather. We’re talking and we’re excited about the trip. It’s 7:45 am and that’s the time for us to get in the bus and leave. We’re heading to Prague for another culture experience, to the Vinohrady Theatre to see the play “Lev v zimě” by the American playwright James Goldman.
We’re arriving to Prague, it’s about
First, let me introduce you the play The Lion in Winter (Czech Lev v zimě). It’s a play by James Goldman (1927–1998), who also received the Academy Award for this work in 1968. The play premiered in 1966 on Broadway starring Robert Preston and Rosemary Harris, who received the Tony Award for her portrayal of Eleanor. Now let’s move to the topic of the play. It’s about the lives of the king Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their 3 children. The story is located to the castle of Chinon in Anjou during Christmas 1183. The king has to solve the relationships in the family and issues connected with succession to the British throne. I think there’s no need to go into particulars. The king was portrayed in the Czech theatre by the famous actor Tomáš Töpfer. Dagmar Havlová Veškrnová played his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was very exciting to see these two popular artists (from the 8th row!). Their performance was extraordinary. I lapped up every word. Amazing! Of course, I can’t forget the other great actors: Ondřej Brousek as the oldest son Richard, Marek Holý as son Geoffrey, Viktor Javořík as the youngest son John, Daniel Bambas as the King of France, Philip II, and Tereza Terberová as Alys of France, Henry’s mistress. The adaption was very impressive. It premiered on October 21, 2017 and it’s made by the director Jan Burian. In my opinion, it was actually one of the best plays of those we’ve seen under our theatre-trips with Mrs. Popelová.
Before the play, we went to a new café near the theatre. Refreshed by the hot chocolate and coffee, we could fully enjoy the masterpiece. After the play, we had about one and half hour free for the lunch in the centre. Of course, as the health-food-eaters, we went to the UGO Salaterie. In the afternoon, we got back to the bus and went to Pilsen. (On the way, I took a very pleasant nap.)
It was again a very nice experience and I’m already looking forward to another play!
Thank you, Mrs. Popelová and Mrs. Kutná, for making this great trip!
