HENRY V

HENRY V: William Shakespeare.
RSC, Courtyard, Stratford Upon Avon.
Tkts: 0844 800 1110 .
Runs: 3h 25m, one interval, till 14 March 2008
Review: Rod Dungate, 6 November 2007.

Feet on the ground within an over-arching framework that thrills.
A hard and gritty setting and a tough and gritty production reflect the hardship of war in this production. But within this framework are clearly human beings. Central among them is King Henry and the narrative unfolds seen, for the most part, through the lens of his relationships. The big moments are all here, but this is a tale of people; the payoff is powerful as the lists of the war dead are read at the war’s conclusion – a fitting message for our time.

Geoffrey Streatfeild’s vigorous Henry is pivotal to the production’s success. His changes of mood and style are rapid, sometimes violent; yet there is nothing showy, he creates a quick-thinking, intelligent young man. Streatfeild has grown in stature as an actor since I saw him in the Henry IVs in the summer. His greatest asset in this production is his honesty, his truth, his what-you-see-is-what-you-get; it draws you into their world and doesn’t let you go.

His Henry is hardly ever static, is all rises and falls. Fabulous, almost quivering, anger at the treachery of the Scroop trio; touching quietness of his admiration of the elderly Erpingham. I thrill at the moment everything stops as he considers his options informed of Bardolph’s impending execution. And, more powerful than I’ve seen it before, his great affection for his Captain Fluellen.

Jonathan Slinger’s Fluellen is another strong characterisation. He perfectly balances the Captain’s naïve honesty and foolishness. In the brutalities of all the warfare, like Henry, we become very fond of him.

Alexia Healy and Hannah Barrie create another fine partnership – Lady Katherine and her maid, Alice. Some touching comedy grows from their strong bond; these moments are like bright but fragile lanterns in the harsh, dark, macho world.

The final scenes between Henry and Katherine (chillingly played literally on the war dead) concludes a satisfying journey for Henry. Stammering out his feeble French he is as human as we are. His long journey from the brothels and pubs of London into his kingship is complete; he combines King and Man.

Michael Boyd has directed with a strong and sure control. His attention to detail is clear, but it is the big over-arching frame that thrills. Working with designer Tom Piper they create a world in which the French descend from the heavens, effete and self-congratulatory, while the English (and Scots, Irish and Welsh) are born of the Earth and keep their feet firmly on it.

Chorus: Forbes Masson
King Henry V: Geoffrey Streatfeild
Prince John of Lancaster: Chris McGill
Duke of Gloucester: Luke Neal
Duke of Exeter: Miles Richardson
Duke of York: Rob Carroll
Earl of Westmoreland: Tom Hodgkins
Earl of Warwick: Patrice Naiambana
Archbishop of Canterbury: Geoffrey Freshwater
Bishop of Ely: Roger Watkins
Henry, Lord Scroop: James Tucker
Richard, Earl of Cambridge: Anthony Shuster.
Sir Thomas Grey: Rob Carroll.
Bardolph: Julius D’Silva.
Nym: Keith Dunphy.
Pistol: Nicholas Asbury.
Mistress Quickly: Maureen Beattie.
Boy: Wela Frasier.
Sir Thomas Erpingham: Sandy Neilson.
Captain Fluellen: Jonathan Slinger.
Captain Gower: Paul Hamilton.
Captain Jamy: Geoffrey Freshwater.
Captain MacMorris: Rob Carroll.
John Bates: Anthony Shuster.
Michael Williams: Lex Shrapnel.
King Charles VI: Sandy Neilson.
Queen Isabel: Katy Stephens.
The Dauphin: John MacKay.
Constable of France: Antony Bunsee.
Duke of Orleans: Kieran Hill.
Lady Katherine: Alexia Healy.
Alice: Hannah Barrie.
Grandpre: Roger Watkins.
Montjoy: Chuk Iwuji.
Duke of Burgundy: Matt Costain.
French Prisoner: James Tucker.

Directed by: Michael Boyd.
Associate Director: Richard Twyman.
Set Designed by: Tom Piper.
Costumes Designed by: Tom Piper and Emma Williams.
Lighting Designed by: Heather Carson.
Music Composed by: James Jones and John Woolf.
Movement by: Liz Ranken.
Sound Designed by: Andrea J Cox.
Fights by: Terry King.
Assistant Director: Donnacadh O'Briain.
Director of Ropework: Matt Costain.
Company Voice Work by: Alison Bomber.
Casting by: Ginny Schiller and Sam Jones.

2007-11-07 21:09:16