Henry IV, Part 2 (1990, Michael Bogdanov) part 14 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
Bardolph - Colin Farrell (actor born 1938)
Pistol - Paul Brennen
Silence - Philip Bowen
Doll Tearsheet - Francesca Ryan
Mistress Quickly - June Watson
Henry Prince of Wales - Michael Pennington

Director Michael Bogdanov

Commentary By Henry Norman Hudson:

Falstaff's overflowing humour results in a placid goodnature towards those about him, and attaches them by the mere remembrance of pleasure in his company. The tone of feeling he inspires is well shown in what the Hostess says when he leaves her for the wars: " Well, fare thee well: I have known thee these twenty-nine years, come peascod- time; but an honester and truer-hearted man — well, fare thee well." She wants to say some good of him which she cannot quite say, it is so glaringly untrue; the only instance, by the way, of her being checked by any scruples on that score. This feeling of the Hostess is especially significant in view of what has passed between them. She cannot keep angry at him, because in his roughest speeches there is something tells her it is all a mere carousal of his wits. Even when she is most at odds with him, a soothing word at once sweetens her thoughts ; so that, instead of pushing him for the money he has borrowed, she pawns her plate, to lend him ten pounds more.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

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