Henry IV, 1 and 2, till 15 July
Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2: William Shakespeare
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Part of the Compete Works Festival
Runs till Saturday 15 July. Part 1, 2h 40m, Part 2, 2h 25 m: both one interval
Review: Rod Dungate, 11 July 2006
Physically strong, powerful relationships, an intriguing view of British history from overseas
There is an over-riding feeling of physicality in these performances. It’s a sense of the characters being created from their guts outwards; the characters have a solidness that not only drives each individual performance but also powerfully informs the relationships. The plays shift slightly giving us a new perspective.
In Henry IV, 1 and 2, we see an ailing monarch; as he sees the country potentially falling apart he worries about holding the country together. It’s a personal problem for him on two fronts – he usurped the throne, and his son, heir to the throne, is wayward and feckless. In a way, this Chicago company plays out this personal story of powerful struggles and emotions as the spine and we watch as it links into the tapestry of our history.
It may be that I look at the production with UK eyes, but there is a strong sense of some of the main characters having walked in off American streets. This is not a weakness, it’s brilliantly exciting, it’s the source of the production’s power.
Central within this is Jeffrey Carlson’s Prince Hal. What a challenge this young man has set himself. You constantly ask yourself Where’s this character going? Where’s he coming from? This isn’t comfortable for us – but we must realise this Hal is torn apart by these very questions. This young Prince seems to know one thing – he wants to do anything as long as it’s not what his father wants him to do. (How very human.) His problem is that he knows he’s not right and it gnaws away at him. Carlson physicalises this; it may be too much for some, but not for me.
Step by step we watch him subtly change. His final scenes as the new king (Henry V), first with his brothers and the Lord Chief Justice, then following his coronation are finely judged. Here is not a Henry reborn, certain and sure in his power. This is a Henry taking his first tentative steps, unsure and uncertain, but certain he is now on the right path – Agincourt is yet in the distance.
Matching this is the powerful presence of Greg Vinkler as Sir John Falstaff. I sense in Vinkler’s performance none of our historical attachment to this character; Vinkler seems to say ‘I am what I am.’ And what is he? A cheat, a con-man, a liar, a drunk . . . need I go on? There is still much comedy in the performance, but we don’t laugh with him. Indeed, we are with the Prince; we laugh with the Prince at Falstaff. The laughter is dark and bitter and ironic.
Collecting his poor soldiers for the battles, Vinkler puts his own nails in Falstaff’s coffin; ‘They’re food for powder. They’ll fill a pit’. For the first time ever, I have felt no sympathy for Falstaff when he’s dismissed by Henry after his coronation; he gets what he deserves; I’m satisfied.
John Douglas Thompson’s Hotspur is riveting. His temper outbursts are frightening, a man out of control, but his scenes with his wife (Kate Fry) are so beautiful and gentle, so surprisingly playful, they make you weep.
King Henry IV: David Lively
Henry, Prince of Wales (Hal): Jeffrey Carson
Prince John of Lancaster: jay Whittaker
Humphrey Duke of Gloucester: Brian Herriott
Thomas Duke of Clarence: Matt Schwader
Earl of Westmorland: Scott Jacek
Lord Chief Justice: Robert Scogin
Sir Walter Blunt: Braden Moran
Gower: Braden Moran
Harcourt: Matt Hawkins
Sir John Falstaff: Greg Vinkler
Mistress Quickly: Lusia Strus
Edward Poins: Timothy Edward Kane
Bardolph: Dan Kenney
Peto: Ross Lehmann
Pistol: Kevin Gudahl
Gadshill: Matt Hawkins
Falstaff’s Page: Matt Schwader
Doll Tearsheet: Susan Hart
Sheriff: Scott Jaeck
Fang: Scott Jaeck
Snare: Bruce A Young
Francis: Mike Nussbaum
Musicians: Richard Manera, Matt Hawkins
Henry Percy: Bruce A Young
Henry Percy (Hotspur): John Douglas Thompson
Lady Percy: Kate Fry
Thomas Percy: Robert Scogin
Sir Richard Vernon: Bruce A Young
Owen Glendower: John Reeger
Edward Mortimer: Brian Herriott
Lady Mortimer: Jessie Mueller
Archbishop of York: John Reeger
Earl of Douglas: Kevin Gudahl
Lord Bardolph: Kevin Gudahl
Travers: Brian Herriott
Lord Hastings: Ross Lehman
Lord Mowbray: John Douglas Thompson
Morton: Timothy Edward Kane
Sir Michael: Timothy Edward Kane
Harpist: Richard Manera
Justice Robert Shallow: Mike Nussbaum
Justice Silence: Dale Benson
Ralph Mouldy: Braden Moran
Simon Shadow: Matt Hawkins
Thomas Wart: Richard Manera
Frances Feeble: Jay Whittaker
Peter Bullcalf: Brian Herriott
Davie: John Reeger
Rumour: Ross Lehman
Director: Barbara Gaines
Scenic Design: Neil Patel, USA
Lighting Design: Ken Billington, USA
Costume Design: Virgil C Johnson, USA
Wigs and Make-up Design: Melissa Veal
Composer: Alaric Jans
Composer/ Sound Design: Lindsay Jones, USA
Fight Choreographer: Robin H McFarquhar
Text Coach: Kevin Gudahl
Vocal Coach: Phyllis E Griffin
2006-07-12 10:35:16