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

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

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
Earl of Worcester - Philip Bowen

Director Michael Bogdanov

excerpts from "AN ESSAY ON THE DRAMATIC CHARACTER OF SIR JOHN FALSTAFF" by Maurice Morgann (1777):

The reader knows I allude, tho'
something prematurely, to his fictitious death in the battle of
Shrewsbury. This incident is generally construed to the
disadvantage of Falstaff: It is a transaction which bears the
external marks of Cowardice: It is also aggravated to the spectators
by the idle tricks of the Player, who practises on this occasion all
the attitudes and wild apprehensions of fear; more ambitious, as it
should seem, of representing a Caliban than a Falstaff; or indeed
rather a poor unwieldy miserable Tortoise than either.-

The painful
Comedian lies spread out on his belly, and not only covers himself
all over with his robe as with a shell, but forms a kind of round
Tortoise-back by I know not what stuffing or contrivance; in addition
to which, he alternately lifts up, and depresses, and dodges
his head, and looks to the one side and to the other, so much with
the piteous aspect of that animal, that one would not be sorry to see
the ambitious imitator calipashed in his robe, and served up for the
entertainment of the gallery.-

There is no hint for this mummery in the Play: Whatever there may be of dishonour in Falstaff's conduct, he neither does or says any thing on this occasion which indicates terror or disorder of mind: On the contrary, this very act is a proof of his having all his wits about him, and is a stratagem, such as it is, not improper for a buffoon, whose fate would be singularly hard, if he should not be allowed to avail himself of his Character when it might serve him in most stead. We must remember, in extenuation, that the executive, the destroying hand of Douglas was over him: 'It was time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant Scot had paid him scot and lot too.' He had but one choice; he was obliged to pass thro' the ceremony of dying either in jest or in earnest; and we shall not be surprized at the event, when we remember his propensities to the former.-

Life (and especially the life of Falstaff) might be a jest; but he could see no joke whatever in dying: To be chopfallen was, with him, to lose both life and character together: He saw the point of honour, as well as every thing else, in ridiculous lights, and began to renounce its tyranny

Category:

Education

Tags:

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

[dadasopher]

An excellent Falstaff, i'faith!

[Lothriel]

My God, Michael Pennington is amazing. I think I could watch that man twiddle his thumbs and be entertained! Thank you, S.A.M, for the fantastic post.

[sjhorsfall]

@dadasopher Aye, verily. Shakespeare liked him so much that he not only put him in three plays (and referred to him in a fourth), he also resurrected him, lightly disguised, as Sir Toby Belch in 'Twelfth Night'.

[jo123phoebe]

I love the mesmerizing a-historicism of this production! :D

[that1weirdkid27]

I knew Falstaff wasn't dead. Shakespeare likes him too much. lol

[GreatGrumbledook]

... O that it could be proved That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged In cradle-clothes our children where they lay, And call'd mine Percy, his Plantagenet! Then would I have his Harry, and he mine. But let him from my thoughts."

If these verses would not have been missing, a lot more people might have understood the prodigal son plays of Shakespeare much better; as the underlining theme of the both parts of Henry IV and Henry V too is the redemption of prince Henry!

[GreatGrumbledook]

It is so strange leaving out just a few lines and a whole play maybe corrupted, like here:

KING HENRY IV: "Yea, there thou makest me sad and makest me sin In envy that my Lord Northumberland Should be the father to so blest a son, A son who is the theme of honour's tongue; Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant; Who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride: Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him, See riot and dishonour stain the brow Of my young Harry. ...

[JackGraham999]

Wonderful play, wonderful production, wonderful channel. Nuff said.