Henry IV, Part 2 (1990, Michael Bogdanov) part 15 of 15

Shakespeare's "King Henry IV, Part 2" from "The War of the Roses" (English Shakespeare Company, UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.

Robert Shallow - Clyde Pollitt
Falstaff - Barry Stanton
Pistol - Paul Brennen
Henry Prince of Wales - Michael Pennington
Lord Chief Justice - Hugh Sullivan
Prince John of Lancaster - John Dougall

Director Michael Bogdanov

Commentary By Henry Norman Hudson on Prince Henry:

Prince Henry's conduct was indeed such as to lose him his seat in the Council, where he was replaced by his younger brother. Nevertheless it is certain that in mental and literary accomplishment he was in advance of his age; being in fact one of the most finished gentlemen as well as greatest statesmen and best men of his time. This seeming contradiction is all cleared up in the Poet's representation. It was for the old chroniclers to talk about his miraculous conversion: Shakespeare, in a far wiser spirit, and more religious too, brings his conduct within the ordinary rules of human character; representing whatever changes occur in him as proceeding by the methods and proportions of nature. His early "addiction to courses vain" is accounted for by the character of Falstaff; it being no impeachment of his intellectual or moral manhood, that he is drawn way by such a mighty magazine of fascinations. It is true, he is not altogether unhurt by his connection with Sir John: he is himself sensible of this; and the knowledge goes far to justify his final treatment of Falstaff. But, even in his wildest merry-makings, we still taste in him a spice and flavour of manly rectitude; undesigned by him indeed, and the more assuring to us, that he evidently does not taste it himself.

Shakespeare has nothing finer in its way than the gradual sundering of the ties that bind him to Falstaff, as the higher elements of his nature are called forth by emergent occasions; and his turning the dregs of unworthy companionship into food of noble thought and sentiment, extracting the sweetness of wisdom from the weeds of dangerous experiences. And his whole progress through this transformation, till " like a reappearing star" he emerges from the cloud of wildness wherein he had obscured his contemplation, is dappled with rare spots of beauty and promise.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• King-Henry-IV
• 2H4
• Michael-Pennington
• Falstaff
• Barry-Stanton
• play
• theatre
• English-history

[GreatGrumbledook]

"I know thee not, old man: fall to thy prayers; How ill white hairs become a fool and jester! I have long dream'd of such a kind of man, So surfeit-swell'd, so old and so profane; But, being awaked, I do despise my dream. Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace; Leave gormandizing; know the grave doth gape For thee thrice wider than for other men. Reply not to me with a fool-born jest: Presume not that I am the thing I was; ..."

Try it yourself; it does really work, beyond wildest dreams!

[GreatGrumbledook]

Overall a pretty decent performance of the two the prodigal son plays of Shakespeare; though the costumes are a mess: Medieval chain mails and tabard, Victorian dandy uniforms and suits and worse: Modern gutter folk outfit; the music was sometime very misplaced, too and I hate it when directors try with such tricks to give an ancient play some up to date relevance; but then again: The banishment of Falstaff still provides the verses for everyone to confront old but unpleasant acquaintances:

[TheMusicmanMB]

Falstaff is an excellent actor. I was practically in tears when Falstaff was banished by Hal....It pisses me off that Falstaff wasn't even given the chance to change. I mean he figured hal was the same hal but with time Falstaff could have changed!!!