Dancers in the Dark Book

Wow, what a political intrigue. This is not a sprawling as Game of Thrones, but it's similar to it. Who will get the throne of England when Henry dies. He and his wife hate/love each other and Henry has a lover in his bed now. Wife Eleanor is trying to put Richard I on the the throne and Henry wants to put John on the throne and no one wants Geoffrey. The time is 1188 and I assume this is historically based.

The characters were well rounded, devious, and everyone is willing to go to war or kill to take the throne. The funny thing about the play is we never find out who took the throne. I am assuming it was Richard I, but it might have been John.

These were some brutal times. King Henry wants to divorce Eleanor so he can marry his lover and then have more sons for the throne. He has disowned his sons and wants to lock them up. Though, if he leaves them in the dungeon and they get out, he knows they will kill the young new heirs.

I have to say that it came as a surprise, but Richard was gay and having an affair with Phillip, King of France. I didn't see that coming and I do wonder if that is historically based. I know that stuff happens in history, but I have never heard that and I'm also surprised it was used in 1960s America.

Of the the scheming characters, for some reason I have a fondness for Richard. I'm not sure why. I do feel for middle Geoffrey as he was so forgotten. The intrigue here is intense and this would be a horrible way to grow up or live in this toxic environment.

My flute teacher recommended this play to me saying he loved it. I'm glad I finally read this and checked it off my list. These characters are humans, they have good sides and bad sides. They are willing to do horrible things for power. They are very complex. It's a wonderful play.