‘The Lion in Winter’ in Mid-run at PICT; Biddle’s Escape a Fun Adventure (Wed., 12/7/16)

PICT’s “Lion in Winter” has Alan Stanford and Cary Anne Spear as the royal odd couple, Henry and Eleanor.

1) Family gatherings light up the holidays, especially when they mix clashing personalities and contentious politics. To honor this fine old tradition, PICT Classic Theatre is staging The Lion in Winter, a seriocomedy that depicts the family of King Henry II of England spontaneously combusting at Christmastime in 1183. The scenes and dialogue are fictional, but the play’s backstory is true. Henry was a hard-driving monarch married to a formidable woman, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Their union produced five sons, three daughters, and a war in which some of the sons—aided by Eleanor—rebelled against their dad. Henry crushed the revolt and pardoned the boys, but locked up his queen. She spent years in the medieval version of white-collar prison, let out only on special occasions.

The play imagines Eleanor released to join a sexually and politically charged Christmas celebration that includes the still-unruly sons and a young femme fatale. The Lion in Winter was made into a popular 1968 film. 8 p.m. Pre-show lecture. Performances through December 17. PICT is doing it live at the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. (MV)

2) Entertainment Central’s food writer Deborah McDonald loves Biddle’s Escape, on Biddle Avenue between Regent Square and Wilkinsburg. Deborah reports they have a great selection of coffee drinks, teas, and sweet treats.  She especially likes the Hungarian szegedi kave: 2 shots of espresso, 2 shots of steamed cream, maple/cinnamon sugar, and whipped cream. Another cool thing, Deborah says, is their patio where on a warm day you can sit beneath the trees and carved wood faces and enjoy the shade. As you may remember from local history and a movie titled Mrs. Soffel, the Biddle brothers escaped from the Allegheny County jail with the aid of Mrs. Soffel (the warden’s wife who was in love with one of the brothers) in 1902. 401 Biddle Ave., Regent Square/Wilkinsburg.

3) Cappy’s Cafe in Shadyside is holding a Team Trivia contest tonight with Trivia Master John. 9 – 11 p.m. Yuengling draft special is $3 for a 20 oz. brew. 5431 Walnut St.

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