Henry IV, Part 1 (1990, Michael Bogdanov) part 14 of 17

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


Hotspur - Andrew Jarvis
Earl of Worcester - Philip Bowen
Sir Richard Vernon - Paul Brennen
Falstaff - Barry Stanton
Bardolph - Colin Farrell (actor born 1938)
Henry Prince of Wales - Michael Pennington
Earl of Westmoreland - Ben Bazell
King Henry IV - Michael Cronin

Director Michael Bogdanov

Commentary by the Hudson Shakespeare Company:

The second wave of history plays become popular again as England's international exploits became more a topical. Though spotty, playwrights as well as other writers of the day put their best foot forward touting the patriotic spirit of mother England and their physical mother Queen Elizabeth. Continuing in his practice of mixing comic and tragic elements, Shakespeare sought to counter balance the often stuffy historical scenes with scenes from the life of common folk. This was an innovation for this type of genre as most of his contemporaries usually stuck with the high historical points.

Henry IV is also set apart the apparently personal familial tone it takes as opposed to Richard II and King John, two histories written a year earlier. It's perhaps no coincindence that a central father and son theme crops up in the same time when Shakespeare's own son Hamnet dies on May 11, 1596. In the wake of Hamnet's death, Shakespeare begins to buy property and get a coat of arms for his family. Prior to his son's death, living day to day seem to be more of a concern. Playwise, certain lines in King John thought to have been added later figure with the death of a child and the Henry IV plays postdate Hamnet's death. What was first intended as a sequel to a popular history play, took on a more personal tone.

Category:

Education

Tags:

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

[fatdaddyb28]

He buffed his head with a towel to prepare for this role.