Tony Wood
Henry V by William Shakespeare: Lichfield Players
Lichfield Garrick
To learn that one of the Bard’s plays is to be performed in a contemporary mode can bring apprehension. On reflection one wonders why, because the original was performed in the contemporary mode and costume of the day. Lichfield Players had a double triumph in their interpretation of Henry V at to the Garrick Studio. First the appreciation that the studio was a type of modern equivalent to the Shakespeare stage – not every play was performed in the expanse offered by The Globe. Secondly the modern dress and modern technology did not seem to jar at all. Was that because the original was performed in the costume of the time and the skilled writing is appropriate to any age?
This production certainly reflected the corporate skills of the Lichfield Players and one came away with a composite appreciation of the whole play. The character of Henry was foremost. The original audiences would have already been familiar with the character, which was depicted in the Henry IV plays as a wild, undisciplined lad known as "Prince Hal." In Henry V, the young prince has become a mature man and embarks on an attempted conquest of France, personified in a forthright and commanding performance by David Stonehouse. In the early scenes the embarkation of Henry’s fleet at Southampton is the main subject with the plot by the Earl of Cambridge (Win Churchill). to assassinate Henry. This was dealt with in a ruthless treatment of the plotters; the Henry of earlier years had changed. The closeness of the rogues’ execution to the audience made this particularly brutal. Before the Battle of Agincourt where victory was uncertain, the young king’s character is show in his decision to wander around the English camp at night in disguise. This scene was particularly personal and David Stonehouse showed this insight into Henry as much as the rallying of troops and the famous Crispin day speech.
Modern technology and help from the Whittington barracks transported the battle into a modern day scenario but this was still achieved with relatively few players recalling the opening words of the play – ‘Can this cockpit hold the vasty field of France?’ Shakespeare acknowledged the difficulty of conveying great battle scenes and shifts of location and encouraged his audience to use their imagination. - So we experienced the battle and the carnage of Agincourt, the peace settlement and Henry’s wooing of the French princess and him being made heir to the throne of France.
Shakespeare’s historical plays all have the number of comic characters which we met in this production. Banter between the common soldiers gave a break in the serious plot – there was Pistol (Richard Bannister), Nym (Michael Kelly) and Bardolph( Rob Pass) Alongside was the comical biased soldiers representing the British isles to suggest the army came from the whole country the Welshman Fluellen in the hands of David Titley was foremost and truly proud of the leek he wore!
The Chorus (Gina Martin and Alan Bateman) kept us informed of the movement of the action in the traditional way, the modern technology of ’24 hour news coverage on large screen’ communication by mobile phone and laptop made the whole play immediate. If you did not see the play you may wonder about the modern ‘intrusion’ but the experience is in the seeing – this was a splendid enthusiastic and all embracing production for which Ian Parkes, the director should receive acclaim.
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Paul Marston
Birmingham Mail 2nd February 2008
Once More Into the Breach, on a Mobile.
The Players give a very modern slant to Shakespeare's drama about the Hundred Years War. As King Henry sets out to conquer France, the soldiers have present-day combat gear and weapons. A laptop turns up and the monarch even chats on a mobile phone at one point. Strange, yes, but it works, with a splendid cast adapting well to the limited floor space.
Agincourt battle scenes filmed at the Staffordshire Regimental Museum, Whittington Barracks, are projected onto a screen. David Stonehouse, in suit and tie, is outstanding as Henry, convincing with the famous St Crispin rallying speech to the troops ahead of their battle against the French army. He has an amusing exchange, too, with Lara Gee (French Princess Katherine) as she tries to understand his amorous overtures.
David Titley sparkles in the role of the Welshman Fluellen, fresh leek pinned to his tunic, and there are fine contributions from the Chorus, Alan Bateman and Gina Martin.
VERDICT: *****
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