Henry IV, Part 1 (1990, Michael Bogdanov) part 16 of 17

Shakespeare's "King Henry IV, Part 1" performed by the The English Shakespeare Company

Hotspur - Andrew Jarvis
Falstaff - Barry Stanton
Henry Prince of Wales - Michael Pennington
King Henry IV - Michael Cronin
Prince John of Lancaster John Dougall
Earl of Westmoreland - Ben Bazell

Production Team and Crew Overview:

Artistic Director - Michael Bogdanov
Artistic Director - Michael Pennington
Director - Michael Bogdanov
Costumes - Stephanie Howard
Settings - Chris Dyer
Original Music - Terry Mortimer
Fights - Malcolm Ranson
Theatrical Lighting - Mark Henderson

Mel Gussow wrote (in NY Times, June 7, 1988) of this production:

..Though the new company, under the co-artistic direction of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington, thins out a bit in subsidiary roles, it has a resilience and, as is essential for repertory, it has a remarkable versatility. Mr. Pennington, who has been seen to great advantage with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-on-Avon, outshines his previous accomplishments, playing Richard II, Prince Hal and Henry V, as well as a variety of minor roles from a doddering ancient to a punk version of the rebel Jack Cade in ''Henry VI.'' His finest hour is at Agincourt as a bold Henry V, and it is no disparagement to suggest that his energy seemed somewhat depleted by the end of the marathon when he played Buckingham in ''Richard III.'' For Mr. Pennington, the marathon is a feat of artistry as well as of memory.

His performances are matched by those of Andrew Jarvis. Because of his striking appearance - he is a young bald actor - Mr. Jarvis is always distinguishable in the ensemble, as he works his way toward Richard III by playing assassins as well as the petulant Dauphin. In character as Richard, he steadily ascends in the role, until, with a vicious and triumphant smile, he commands center stage and the kingdom.

Among the other formidable performances are Barry Stanton's Falstaff (in his modernized costume, he is the beefiest Beefeater one has ever seen); John Castle, who moves from a severe Henry IV to a low-comic Pistol; Chris Hunter's volatile portrayal of Hotspur and other hotheads; Mary Rutherford's Joan of Arc, and Paul Brennen's appropriately weak-willed Henry VI, who keeps reminding us that he became King when he was but 9 months old.

Authoritative behind the scenes is Mr. Bogdanov, who directed all seven plays and filtered them through his own historical perspective. It is his intention to describe the universality of the events, and in so doing he cues the audience with anachronisms. From a mid-19th-century ''Richard II,'' he moves slowly - and sometimes jarringly - into the present. By ''Richard III,'' we are in modern times.

Frequently, the director interjects either a contemporary note or its reverse, a classical reminder. A knight in chain mail appears in the company of doughboys, and contemporary music often counterpoints the action. The approach is not as intrusive as it may sound. It acts to keep the audience - and the actors - on their toes, and, caught up by the method, theatergoers may discover their own references. When the Duchess of Gloucester goes to a soothsayer to foresee events, it is barely a leap to a contemporary parallel. In any case, the quality of the acting overcomes any doubts one may have about the directorial concept.

''The Wars of the Roses'' is a monumental achievement in which the whole is even greater than its considerable parts. One's only regret is that the marathon was a one-time-only presentation in Stamford. Continuing its international tour, the company will play the York Festival in England. In New York, as in Stamford, it could have been its own festival.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• King-Henry-IV
• 1H4
• Michael-Pennington
• Barry-Stanton
• Andrew-Jarvis
• play
• theatre

[that1weirdkid27]

What a wonderful Falstaff. Fabulous casting job.

I wonder if Shakespeare wanted us to side with the rebels... I know I've been rooting for them, even though I knew they probably weren't going to win.

[evanjrmy]

a sad say for shakespeare

[Lothriel]

Geez...

That's some terribly effective fight directing, there...totally didn't expect that... 0_0