Arts > Theatre

Henry IV Part I - Theatre Royal

15/10/14

Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I is the story of a usurper King struggling to maintain power in a Britain rife with infighting and with a son who prefers the ale-house to the royal court. Political intrigue and broad comedy sit side by side in this great production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

 The star role is not Henry IV himself but Sir John Falstaff (played by Antony Sher), the carousing knight who acts as a surrogate father and wayward role model for Prince Hal (Alex Hassell). Sher gives us a complex man, not simply a jolly pantomimic drunk. There is vulnerability, hands shaking as he reaches for a cup of wine, a shuffling gait, yet also commanding charm as he holds sway over his own ‘court’ in an Eastcheap tavern. Sher’s comic timing is impeccable. He expertly conveys the darker side of Falstaff, the coward, the liar, the opportunist and does so with a sly glance so that the audience can’t help but be charmed.

 For me, the one caveat was Trevor White as Hotspur, the northern rebel lord. The character is quick to anger and speak his mind, full of rude (and sometimes funny) outbursts. However with his bleached blonde hair and loose physicality Trevor White is almost too funny, occasionally his rages coming across more like tantrums. There were interesting directorial choices in White’s first appearance in front of the King. Would a knight who had slain so many men in battle be brought to his knees by his Uncle tweaking his ear? Director Gregory Doran presents a Hotspur that was a fiery figure of fun rather than a credible threat.

 That aside the ensemble is strong, the action slick and engaging and the play is a highly enjoyable night’s entertainment. In fact the ticket price is well worth it for Antony Sher’s powerhouse performance alone. I would happily rush along to see Part II.