The Lion’s Game
© 2001
Dennis Werner
A historical drama
Scene 1: Queen Eleanor’s Court of Love,
Poitiers, 1168
The Bailiff announces the opening
of yet another trial in which some offended lady
accuses her lover of wrongdoing. This time the
lover has engaged in callous thievery by stealing
a kiss. The defendant and his lady engage in a
bit of medieval dialectic (click for an MP3
of this debate sung by André Franzoni and
Claudia Ondrusek).
After praising Eleanor’s wise judgment on
the case, all depart except Eleanor and her son,
Richard. She makes sure he has understood the
argumentation, and is progressing well in his
intellectual training. Both agree that life is a
game and that Richard will play it well.
Scene 2: Gisors, 1188
Eleanor’s husband, King Henry
II of England, and King Philip of France have met
on the field to arrange a truce. Knights in
jousting outfits comment on how the spring
tournaments enable them to impress maidens and to
evaluate the strength of potential foes without
actual killing, but they complain that Prince
Richard prefers going directly to war, murdering,
plundering and raping. In another part of the
field nuns complain about the plundering of their
monasteries and express their doubts about a
truce, since Henry’s sons will continue
fighting anyway. They hope that the Bishop of
Tyre will convince all to engage in a new crusade
since this will take the fighting and plundering
to another place. The Bishop of Tyre then gives
his speech in which he points out the particular
(selfish) advantages different groups (knights,
government administrators, farmers, priests,
mercenaries and kings) will gain from a Holy
Crusade.
Scene 3: Road to Jerusalem, 1191
While plundering the dead on a
battlefield, King Richard’s soldiers try to
convince King Philip’s troops that they
should continue with the crusade. Richard
explains that the main goal of warfare is to
demonstrate one’s superiority in terms of
personal talents, courage, and moral integrity.
He argues that he is superior in all of these
qualities. The soldiers leave and Richard
explains to his sister, Joana, that he must make
a truce with Saladin so he can return to Europe
and defend his kingdom against King Philip.
Joana’s marriage to Saladin’s brother
would bring about "peace with honor".
Joana indignantly refuses to marry an infidel and
questions Richard’s moral values. (Click
here to hear this duet sung by Rogério Guilherme
and Ondina Berndt.)
Scene 4: Chalus, 1199
Richard has been shot by a simple
archer, and Eleanor rushes to his deathbed.
Richard expresses his doubts about whether he has
been a good King. Richard, Eleanor and the archer
then engage in a debate on what the basis of
morality should be. Richard argues for the
principle of justice