King John at Oklahoma Shakespeare In The Park

King Henry II has died, bequeathing the throne to his youngest son, John. Soon after his coronation, a delegation from King Philip of France arrives demanding that King John abdicate the throne in favor of Prince Arthur, the son of King John’s older and deceased brother, Geoffrey. King John rebukes the French delegation and war breaks out between the two countries. While he defends his crown against the French, his own nobles and the Roman Catholic Church, King John discovers that his oldest brother, Richard The Lionheart, continues to be a powerful influence long after his death. The Life and Death of King John provides an insightful debate on the issue of preserving one’s morality in the face of great political pressure.