Bell Shakespeare's Henry 4
Sun, 7 Apr 2013, 08:45 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
Bell Shakespeare's Henry 4
Sun, 7 Apr 2013, 08:45 pm‘Bell Shakespeare’s Henry 4’ is John Bell’s hilarious adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s more powerful plays, which, due to the length (three and a half hours) is rarely produced. This is a shame as there are some tremendous characters to be found, the most notable being Falstaff.
In this production from the Bell Shakespeare Company, John Bell has merged Shakespeare's historic tales, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 that relate to the rise and fall of Henry Bolingbroke and eventually the accession to the throne of his errant son Prince Hal. The script’s text captain being Tony Llewellyn-Jones.
This magnificent adaptation is being performed at The Heath Ledger Theatre within the State Theatre Centre, 174 William Street, Northbridge. The play is performed each evening at 7.30 pm, with the performances running until Saturday 13th April.
The open stage looks like a dark, back alley in present-day London. The whole rear wall of the stage is comprised of a neat vertical stack of coloured milk crates; hundreds arranged in the design of a Union Jack. There were many wonderfully fresh and inspired ideas from the designer, Stephen Curtis. The wings are drape free, open and littered with props.
From the corner comes the sound of heavy metal, guitar music played by a young hoodie (Felix Jozeps); he is accompanied by the deafening pounding of drums (Ben Wood). Suddenly, at the edge of the stage, a shipping container door burst open and a mob of young yobs, soccer hooligans and a few older homeless tramps spill out. They stagger into the nearest bawdy pub, where Mistress Quickly (Wendy Strehlow) and a tartily dressed pole dancer, Doll Tearsheet (Matilda Ridgway) welcome the gang. In the group is a big fat man with a grey beard that looks like an aging bikie - this is the lying rogue, Sir John Falstaff (John Bell) whose middle name is ‘corruption’. Similar to Fagan in ‘Oliver Twist’, he has a few assistants, including the dim brained alcoholic, Bardolph (Terry Bader) who steals in order to look after Falstaff’s every need. There is also a young dropout, who claims to be a nobleman called Harry, better known as Hal (Matthew Moore). He is accompanied by his drinking buddy, Feeble (Yalin Ozucelik). The whole unsavoury group are the very best of friends.
Hal is unaware that near the Scottish border, the Akubra-wearing Duke of Northumberland, Lord Percy (Ben Wood), has agreed to go into battle with Henry Bolingbroke (David Whitney) against Bolingbroke’s cousin, King Richard II.
In panic, Richard abdicates but is subsequently killed. Bolingbroke accedes to the throne and is now known as King Henry IV. With the loyal aid of his friends Westmoreland (Tony Llewellyn-Jones) and Worcester (Sean O’Shea), Henry immediately starts running the country. Delinquent Hal has now become Prince Hal, Prince of Wales. However, Henry IV shows no appreciation for Northumberland’s help, and as a result Lord Percy is furious with the new king.
Enraged, Percy decides to increase the size of his army by joining forces with his old enemy, the wild Scotsman, Earl of Douglas (Ben Wood). Under the leadership of Percy’s son, Harry Hotspur (Jason Klarwein), the combined forces set out to face Henry.
Prince Hal goes home to congratulate his authoritarian father, only to hear of the Duke of Northumberland’s advancing army. Under coercion, the conceited Hal helps his father conscript any semi-able man, including his old street friends, to fight Hotspur.
When Falstaff is arrested for stealing from a German traveller (Nathan Lovejoy), he is brought before the magistrate. However, a messenger (Arky Michael – biggest single laugh of the night) brings a document that may change the situation.
How can Prince Hal repay his friends when he becomes Henry V?
The directors, Bell and his co-director Damien Ryan, have been painstakingly thorough, fully capturing the rebellious nature and vicious actions of the soldiers, contrasting them with the lewd, lazy humour of Falstaff.
In the fight scenes (Scott Witt) the punches certainly weren’t pulled, even when the sword fights teetered on the edge of the stage. The audience gasped and reacted as though the whole play was in the round and they were in the thick of it. The directors certainly succeeded, grabbing the audience and making them become part of the team.
David Whitney started as the arrogant newly crowned King, and ended as the pathetic old wreck of a man, who could still find enough strength to stand up to his son Hal’s evil intentions. An outstanding, heartrending performance by David.
John Bell as Falstaff raised many belly laughs, with his portrayal of an old man who has a massive ego and a short memory. Falstaff genuinely believed that he is always the hero of the hour. Almost the whole cast had several very different characters to portray, and so good was their characterisation and makeup, that without the programme you would have trouble knowing whether it was another new actor.
Many children will have had Henry IV part 1 as their English set book, but few could have imagined it in the way it has been presented here. It is accessible to all ages, the pace is wonderful and not for a second did the action slow. Props were moved in and out flawlessly – by the actors – under the watchful eye of the stage manager, Peter Sutherland and his assistant, Courtney Wilson. The varied soundscape (designer Kelly Ryall, head of audio Tom Brickhill) combined with a talented lighting designr (Matt Scott) and took us from times of passion through to brutal war.
The range of costumes (Kate Aubrey) required was immense, including smart suits, slum dwellers’ rags, sportsmens’ kits, industrial work wear, sexy and humorous outfits and contemporary military uniforms. Every outfit had that little bit of extra thought gone into it.
As a matter of possible interest, Alnwick Castle on the Scottish Borders is still the home of the Percy family - they still huge landowners. Their castle that can be seen on the titles of ‘Blackadder’ has recently been used as one of the locations for the filming of the Harry Potter series. Northumberland would find it incredible that a 3 million pound tree house (with two restaurants) is now to be found in his garden. Harry Hotspur is said to be the inspiration for Harry Potter.
Even with the first Act being an hour and three quarters, I didn’t see any one going to the toilet during the performance, and I am fairly sure that everyone returned after the interval for the next hour and a half. Gruelling? Certainly not, I have seen half hour shows feel far more punishing.
When the play ended, the house exploded with applause and the cast were given several well-earned curtain calls. This is not a heavy history lesson, just pure quality fun entertainment. After twenty years John hasn’t lost his touch. Very highly recommended.
‘Bell Shakespeare’s Henry 4’ is John Bell’s hilarious adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s more powerful plays, which, due to the length (three and a half hours) is rarely produced. This is a shame as there are some tremendous characters to be found, the most notable being Falstaff.
In this production from the Bell Shakespeare Company, John Bell has merged Shakespeare's historic tales, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 that relate to the rise and fall of Henry Bolingbroke and eventually the accession to the throne of his errant son Prince Hal. The script’s text captain being Tony Llewellyn-Jones.
This magnificent adaptation is being performed at The Heath Ledger Theatre within the State Theatre Centre, 174 William Street, Northbridge. The play is performed each evening at 7.30 pm, with the performances running until Saturday 13th April.
The open stage looks like a dark, back alley in present-day London. The whole rear wall of the stage is comprised of a neat vertical stack of coloured milk crates; hundreds arranged in the design of a Union Jack. There were many wonderfully fresh and inspired ideas from the designer, Stephen Curtis. The wings are drape free, open and littered with props.
From the corner comes the sound of heavy metal, guitar music played by a young hoodie (Felix Jozeps); he is accompanied by the deafening pounding of drums (Ben Wood). Suddenly, at the edge of the stage, a shipping container door burst open and a mob of young yobs, soccer hooligans and a few older homeless tramps spill out. They stagger into the nearest bawdy pub, where Mistress Quickly (Wendy Strehlow) and a tartily dressed pole dancer, Doll Tearsheet (Matilda Ridgway) welcome the gang. In the group is a big fat man with a grey beard that looks like an aging bikie - this is the lying rogue, Sir John Falstaff (John Bell) whose middle name is ‘corruption’. Similar to Fagan in ‘Oliver Twist’, he has a few assistants, including the dim brained alcoholic, Bardolph (Terry Bader) who steals in order to look after Falstaff’s every need. There is also a young dropout, who claims to be a nobleman called Harry, better known as Hal (Matthew Moore). He is accompanied by his drinking buddy, Feeble (Yalin Ozucelik). The whole unsavoury group are the very best of friends.
Hal is unaware that near the Scottish border, the Akubra-wearing Duke of Northumberland, Lord Percy (Ben Wood), has agreed to go into battle with Henry Bolingbroke (David Whitney) against Bolingbroke’s cousin, King Richard II.
In panic, Richard abdicates but is subsequently killed. Bolingbroke accedes to the throne and is now known as King Henry IV. With the loyal aid of his friends Westmoreland (Tony Llewellyn-Jones) and Worcester (Sean O’Shea), Henry immediately starts running the country. Delinquent Hal has now become Prince Hal, Prince of Wales. However, Henry IV shows no appreciation for Northumberland’s help, and as a result Lord Percy is furious with the new king.
Enraged, Percy decides to increase the size of his army by joining forces with his old enemy, the wild Scotsman, Earl of Douglas (Ben Wood). Under the leadership of Percy’s son, Harry Hotspur (Jason Klarwein), the combined forces set out to face Henry.
Prince Hal goes home to congratulate his authoritarian father, only to hear of the Duke of Northumberland’s advancing army. Under coercion, the conceited Hal helps his father conscript any semi-able man, including his old street friends, to fight Hotspur.
When Falstaff is arrested for stealing from a German traveller (Nathan Lovejoy), he is brought before the magistrate. However, a messenger (Arky Michael – biggest single laugh of the night) brings a document that may change the situation.
How can Prince Hal repay his friends when he becomes Henry V?
The directors, Bell and his co-director Damien Ryan, have been painstakingly thorough, fully capturing the rebellious nature and vicious actions of the soldiers, contrasting them with the lewd, lazy humour of Falstaff.
In the fight scenes (Scott Witt) the punches certainly weren’t pulled, even when the sword fights teetered on the edge of the stage. The audience gasped and reacted as though the whole play was in the round and they were in the thick of it. The directors certainly succeeded, grabbing the audience and making them become part of the team.
David Whitney started as the arrogant newly crowned King, and ended as the pathetic old wreck of a man, who could still find enough strength to stand up to his son Hal’s evil intentions. An outstanding, heartrending performance by David.
John Bell as Falstaff raised many belly laughs, with his portrayal of an old man who has a massive ego and a short memory. Falstaff genuinely believed that he is always the hero of the hour. Almost the whole cast had several very different characters to portray, and so good was their characterisation and makeup, that without the programme you would have trouble knowing whether it was another new actor.
Many children will have had Henry IV part 1 as their English set book, but few could have imagined it in the way it has been presented here. It is accessible to all ages, the pace is wonderful and not for a second did the action slow. Props were moved in and out flawlessly – by the actors – under the watchful eye of the stage manager, Peter Sutherland and his assistant, Courtney Wilson. The varied soundscape (designer Kelly Ryall, head of audio Tom Brickhill) combined with a talented lighting designr (Matt Scott) and took us from times of passion through to brutal war.
The range of costumes (Kate Aubrey) required was immense, including smart suits, slum dwellers’ rags, sportsmens’ kits, industrial work wear, sexy and humorous outfits and contemporary military uniforms. Every outfit had that little bit of extra thought gone into it.
As a matter of possible interest, Alnwick Castle on the Scottish Borders is still the home of the Percy family - they still huge landowners. Their castle that can be seen on the titles of ‘Blackadder’ has recently been used as one of the locations for the filming of the Harry Potter series. Northumberland would find it incredible that a 3 million pound tree house (with two restaurants) is now to be found in his garden. Harry Hotspur is said to be the inspiration for Harry Potter.
Even with the first Act being an hour and three quarters, I didn’t see any one going to the toilet during the performance, and I am fairly sure that everyone returned after the interval for the next hour and a half. Gruelling? Certainly not, I have seen half hour shows feel far more punishing.
When the play ended, the house exploded with applause and the cast were given several well-earned curtain calls. This is not a heavy history lesson, just pure quality fun entertainment. After twenty years John hasn’t lost his touch. Very highly recommended.