Henry IV Part 1: Acted and Directed to Perfection
On Thursday evening I had the privilege of both watching and having cocktails with a group of actors who seemingly had honed their craft to perfection in Henry IV Part 1 now playing in repertory with Henry IV Part 2 at the Shakespeare Theatre's Harman Hall. Both are directed by Michael Kahn who as usual brings out the best in his actors challenging them to develop all the nuances in their characters. He brings out the serious and comic in the play along with the politics of the time.
The play opens with King Henry IV (played by Edward Gero) praising among others Lord Henry Percy or also known as Hotspur for valiantly having defeated the invading Scots. Hotspur is acted to perfection by John Keabler who soon will lead a rebellion against the King. At the same time the King’s son Prince Hal is seen carousing with low companions at the local tavern and those companions include Sir John Falstaff an old, fat and sassy knight. Prince Hal is played by Matthew Amendt who manages to bring out the depth of Hal and the audience goes along with him at times liking and rooting for him and at others wishing he wasn’t so arrogant.
Falstaff is acted by Stacy Keach. Not much more can be said about Keach that hasn’t already been said as he is one of the nation’s treasures. He brings a slow and steady build to Falstaff and allows his humor to bring the audience a steady stream of laughs. In speaking with Keach after the show it was interesting to hear him talk about different audiences and how in Shakespeare some get the humor earlier than others and feel comfortable letting out guffaws as the play progresses. He said it usually takes the first few scenes for an audience to get comfortable with the old English speech patterns. Keach takes us on a great ride throughout the production.
There is a great battle scene directed and choreographed by Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet which ends with Prince Hal killing Hotspur. We kidded Matthew and John that if they change who dies one day Michael Kahn would have a difficult time rewriting and restaging Part 2. John as Henry Percy has one scene in which he enters without his shirt. My seat mate, a very beautiful woman, whispered to me saying I didn’t know they had VIDA gyms back in Shakespeare’s time. John happens to have a perfectly sculpted body and Kahn was right to stage the scene that way. He plays the scene with his wife Lady Percy, the very beautiful and talented Kelly Curran. Also in the cast is Helen Hayes Award winner Ted van Griethuysen who told us we will see more of him when we come back to see Part 2.
Part 1 ends with the Battle of Schrewsbury where Hal has killed Hotspur and Falstaff has found a way to claim credit for the death. Part 2 begins with rumors that have it the other way around. I can’t wait to see Part 2 and follow these talented thespians to the conclusion when Prince Hal is crowned King Henry V. I can heartily recommend that you see these productions which will be playing through June 8, 2014 and tickets are available at the Shakespeare Theatre.