Post
5 Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Henry
IV, Part I is playing in an outdoor courtyard at 850 NE 81st in
Portland. The show is free and will play
at 7 pm Fridays-Sundays, through September 8th.
Historical plays and films are never easy to
digest, because one feels they are being lectured to. In a moment, a person feels the Prof might
say, now remember these dates and places, for they will be on the test. I was never a fan of history in school
because I was always wondering, who are these people, how did they live, why
did they do what they did, etc. But
those little items were rarely in the lectures.
Well, wake up, as Master Shakespeare has brought history to life,
peppering us with those self-same items.
So I will not preach to you on stone, cold
facts but try to give you a sense of lives lived. Motivations for War and Politics are
relatively simple and haven’t changed much over the years. Land…Greed…Jealousy…Prejudice…Power…Alliances
made…Treaties broken…Lies…Deceit…Murder and, of course, God is always on their
side. See any relevance to the Old West,
European Wars, our modern times?
To put it simply, King Henry the IV (Jeff
Gorham) of England is trying to hold onto his lands. But other factions within England, chiefly
Hotspur (the brilliant, Orion Bradshaw), and outside, such as the Welsh, Scots,
Irish and even the French, have other ideas as to where borders should be
drawn. Played out, in equal time to this
melee, are the inhabitants of the Boar’s Head Pub, the heart of the story.
Here resides Sir John Falstaff (Rusty
Tennant) and his motley crew of misfits and mischief-makers. Into this mix is also Prince (Harry) Hal (Ty
Boice), the King’s son, who is dutifully sowing his wild oats. He begins to sense, in time, he will have to
put aside such “childish things” and become a King, Henry V. His innocence gone, his Youth shattered, the
time to be a Man is just around the corner.
Again, Universal story? Royalty
will play, as they do today. Look at
recent headlines for relevance of both factions.
The inter-playing of these two stories is
presented beautifully in this production, directed by Don Alder, a well-known
Portland artist. The fight, principally
between Hotspur and Hal, is exceptionally choreographed by Kristen Mun. The staging is simple and very serviceable to
the stories. The blood and make-up, also
effective. And the music/songs, well
chosen. The battle sounds are good but
too loud at times and covered some of the dialogue.
And the ensemble cast is exceptional. Although set in modern times and sans
accents, the speaking of the Bard’s words were, for the most part, clear and concise. The major roles mentioned were very well
performed. Mr. Gorham as the King was
appropriately steadfast in his leadership role, believable in his presentation. Mr. Bradshaw gave an electrifying and very
organic depiction of Hotspur. He was
equally riveting to watch as Puck in their “…Dream.”
Mr. Tennant’s Falstaff is equal parts gross,
likeable, obnoxious, mad and witty.
Rusty is terrific in the role and I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing
it better. Mr. Boice is an amazing actor
to watch. He is completely believable in
his approach to the character of Hal.
You see the conflicted side of him, as he tries to reconcile his royal
duties with the “the good life.” It would
be enlightening to watch him continue the story in Henry V. And, to prove the
old adage, that there are no small parts…, Phillip J. Berns was absolutely
charming in the role of Francis, a servant at the pub. He delighted the audience every time he
appeared onstage.
This is a production well worth seeing and a
company well worth supporting. Although,
free admission is always a good draw in these impoverished times, I’m sure they
would heartily appreciate any monies you can donate to keep their dream alive. They are worth the best of us!
Check out their website as to upcoming
events: www.post5theatre.com Best get there early, as the small audience
area fills up quickly. Bringing your own
food and drink (yes, alcohol, too) is permitted. And bring a chair, too. Tell them Dennis at Uncovered sent you.