Henry IV (Parts One and
Two)
The Colorado Shakespeare
Festival
Now through August 10
The
Colorado Shakespeare Festival is “such stuff as dreams are made on.”
Sunday this reviewer was in attendance at the
performances of both “Henry IV” Part One and “Henry IV” Part Two. What an
astonishing day of Great Theatre! "Henry IV" Part One has long been a personal
favorite. To be able to see both parts of this formidable history play done so
well is a rare treat.
As directed by Carolyn Howarth, the
production of Part One of "Henry IV" has so much to recommend it that you may
wish to go twice. It’s rare to see all of these great roles inhabited by such
wonderful actors.
L L-R: Michael Winters and Benjamin Bonenfant
Geoffrey Kent turns in an astonishing
performance in the role of the firebrand Hotspur. (This is one of Shakespeare’s
most indelible characters and it’s a tragedy that what happens historically to him disallows his return in Part Two.)
It's no surprise that Sam Gregory’s portrayal of Henry IV is superb. After seeing his brilliant Atticus Finch in CSF’s great “To
Kill a Mockingbird” and his brilliant Polonius in The Denver Center’s “Hamlet,”
one simply expects the highest and best from his acting of every role he assumes.
Benjamin Bonenfant is the perfect casting
for Prince Hal. This actor’s bright ascendance into the firmament of the
theatre is that of a star of the first magnitude. Bonenfant’s portrayal of young
Hal’s trajectory through both plays is revelatory.
Falstaff is given a solid reading by
Michael Winters.
Jenna Bainbridge sings exquisitely as Lady
Mortimer.
Vanessa Morosco’s (Ariel in this season’s “The
Tempest”) Earl of Westmoreland is powerful!
"Henry IV" Part Two is presented using
“original practices.” This is an attempt to “recreate the staging and
performance conditions of Elizabethan England.” With only a couple days of
rehearsal the actors are given only their own lines and the line that cues
them. There is also an onstage prompter as well as four above stage Renaissance
musicians. The lights are up full
onstage as well as having the house lights on. So the actors can see and interact
with the audience in much the same way they did in the time of
Shakespeare.
In Henry IV (Part II) all the principals
continue in their vein of excellence.
Tammy Meninghini does some formidable work as Mistress Quickly. Geoff Kent returns in the role of a hilarious scenery-chewing
codger. Awesome work!
It is to be hoped that these two grand productions
will be remounted so that a greater audience may attend.
For tickets go online to
coloradoshakes.org
