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Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Barbara Gaines
At Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL
Call 312-595-5600, tickets $95
Wednesday May 24, 31, June 7 & 14 at 11 AM
Friday May 26, June 2, 9, & 16 at 5:45 PM
Saturday May 27, June 3, 10, 17 at 4 PM
Sunday May 28, June 4, 11 7 18 at 2 PM
Running time is 6 hours for both Parts with a dinner and 2 intermissions
Through June 18, 2006
At the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon, England July 6-15, 2006
"He will give the devil his due". (Act I, Scene II).
"The better part of valour is discretion". (Act V, Scene IV)
Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 deliver epic performances worth our time
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, one of only three U.S. companies invited to perform at the year-long British Shakespeare Festival, has mounted a two play, five-and-one-half hour marathon staging of Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 in a limited run in Chicago that will transfer to England this July. This is a major triumph for Barbara Gaines, for Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the talented Chicago cast. Artistically, the two-play cycle is a magnificent achievement that is a testament to the cooperation, reverence and respect shown by the veteran Chicago actors for The Bard’s work.
Kudos to Barbara Gaines for casting many of the loyal actors who helped her build Chicago Shakespeare Theater into a world class troupe so that they would be able to be seen at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England. Seldom will you see a stronger cast on stage than the one that deftly delivers The Bard’s two part historical saga.
The two play marathon is an epic theatre experience that so totally involves one into the action of Shakespeare’s history sage that is a rare opportunity to enjoy the depth of the world’s finest playwright. Told with sweeping zest, rich in strong performances and easily understandable, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 defines the pivotal period of civil strife during Henry IV’s (David Lively) reign against the coming of age antics of his son Prince Hal (Jeffrey Carlson) and his unruly sidekick, Sir John Falstaff (Greg Vinkler). We witness the revolt by Glendower (John Reeger), Douglas (Kevin Gudahl) and Hotspur’s (John Douglas Thompson) unwillingness to surrender his prisoners. These events threaten Henry’s reign. Prince Hal is busy drinking and parting at the Boar’s Head Tavern with the old, unreformed knight, Falstaff. The King holds up Hotspur’s military achievement to his lax son and Hal vows to prove he is better than Hotspur in battle. Hal save his father on the battlefield and defeats Hotspur while Falstaff avoids death by feigning it.
Part 2 has the King’s health failing but the rebel’s don’t try to attack the King without Northumberland’s (Bruce A. Young) support. Prince John (Jay Whittaker) outwits the rebels and silences the rebellion. The King gets the news of victory on his death bed. Prince Hal becomes king and separates from Falstaff.
The epic play is so engaging as it goes from comic scenes at the Tavern with Greg Vinkler’s terrific Falstaff to powerfully dramatic battle scenes featuring David Lively’s King Henry IV to coming of age bits from Jeffrey Carlson’s Prince Hal. This enjoyable marathon has enough variety, enough drama and enough stellar performances to feed the appetitive of the most sophisticated Shakespearian fan.
The production values, elocution of the players and the swift pace all contributed to a most engaging epic that delivers a rare theatrical treat. Don’t miss this opportunity to see such a terrific cast perform one of Shakespeare’s finest epics.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago Podcast
Date reviewed: May 21, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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