Finishing up their 19th season, the Seattle Shakespeare Company is presenting one of William Shakespeare's most beloved histories (at least it's one of my personal favorites), "Henry V". But this time they have traded in their tunics and swords for uniforms and guns by transplanting it to 1962. And while the show is a solid one I question the decision to retell it in this era.
As the histories go this one covers a pretty short span of time. It focuses on King Henry (formerly Prince Hal, the playboy from Shakespeare's Henry IV) who has now had to grow up and assume the thrown. So now in power, he decides he is going to take his troops and invade France. The play itself really only deals with the events right before and after the battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War. So not so much of a history as Shakespeare's comment on war itself. Director Russ Banham puts it, "I think that Shakespeare was making a bigger statement about how war is never ending rather than just recounting English History." So why the transplant? I have a problem with this habit to begin with. The inclination of companies insisting to relocate in time and space, the works of Shakespeare just to make them a little more accessible. When it lends something to the play, then, great, as was the case with Seattle Shakes previous "Two Gentlemen of Verona". But more often than not it tends to dilute or get in the way of the story as was the case with their "Twelfth Night" earlier this season. Here, the transplant doesn't hurt the production, but it doesn't help it either. It seems to solely be a reason to hear the Shakespearean prose in different accents (in this case 1960's American). But like I said, it didn't detract from what is a very solid production of "Henry V" but it leaves me asking, why?
That aside, as I said, still a very good production and the cast took the 1960's feel and characterizations and ran with them. Our King Henry, played by Evan Whitfield, swaggers about the stage with an air of someone who wants to still be a party boy but now has to be the adult. And he does it with laser focus and never once wavered out of his character. His emotional arc throughout the piece, specifically as he disguises himself as a common soldier to walk amongst his people unknown the night before the big battle is truly a wonderful journey. But really everyone is good in this piece. Richard Nguyen Sloniker is deliciously hilarious as the ridiculous Prince Dauphin. Alexandra Tavares is stunning as the soon to be given away in marriage Katherine. One of my favorite scenes in the piece is the scene where she is trying to learn English with her maid Alice. A scene that is largely done in French so it has to be told in more than just words. And Tavares completely sold it as did Jerick Hoffer who played the maid Alice in a very interesting bit of cross casting. I guess Banham took a note from those You Tube videos and realized that all of Shakespeare's ladies, even Katherine, can benefit from a "Sassy Gay Friend".
And speaking of Hoffer, I have to give him special props. Not only did he turn in a wonderful character as Alice but in another interesting bit of cross casting, they have him in drag at the beginning of the play as Mistress Quickly. So why the special note for a drag role? Because I kept questioning whether it was a drag role. She had the look, the voice and a pair of legs any woman would kill for. I was too busy chatting before the show began so I didn't get a chance to check out my program. So when she came out I found myself thinking, is that a guy, no ... yes ... no ... yes ... no. And rather than asking my friend I was with what she thought (and potentially insulting the actual woman in the role) I very quietly checked out the cast list and photos at intermission. And the answer came to me with a resounding, "Damn, that's one hell of a performance!"
So is the show worth a look? Definitely. It may not be the best use of a time shift I've seen but it is a very well put together production with some outstanding moments.
"Henry V" from the Seattle Shakespeare Company plays at the Center House Theatre in the Seattle Center through May 9th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Shakespeare Company box office at 206-733-8222 or visit them online at www.seattleshakespeare.org.
