By Cal
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJEo339aYw
Available until: Unknown
The Henry VI plays aren’t performed very often. There are
three of them and they’re not exactly short and not many people will want or be
able to afford to go to three consecutive performances. It would be really
tough on the actors too!
The good thing about online plays is that you don’t have to worry about all that. You can watch them at your own pace, at your own time. You can even just watch one and not worry about the rest. Each play is a complete story and although there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of this one, it’s not what I’d call an annoying one. More the kind of one that gets your imagination going. If fanfiction existed in Shakespeare’s day (and who knows? Maybe it did!), the ending to this play might have been quite inspiring.
I’ve only watched the first of the
International Actors Ensemble’s Henry VI trilogy, but I’m already
looking forward to the next one. There are lots of great characters, but one
thing that especially stood out to me about this production about how good some
of the smaller characters are. The cast list seems nearly as long as the odds
for Donald Trump being president again one day, but every character adds to the
drama.
Angelique Malcolm is unbelievably good
as the Countess of Auvergne. She’s barely in it really, but she has so much
power and presence and characterises the role brilliantly. Jeff Watkins plays a
number of roles, but it’s as Sir William Lucy that he particularly stands out.
He appears out of nowhere quite near the end and he’s actually quite
quietly-spoken, but there’s something so compelling about him… and I really
wouldn’t want to cross him.
Natalie Beran, who plays John Talbot
(among others) appears out of nowhere near the end and her scenes with Jonathan
Fuller, who plays her father Talbot, are really moving. Karlis Zaid plays a
large number of roles, but as Mortimer, he provides one of the most emotional
moments in the play. He gives such a strong impression of fragility in his
acting and even though he’s really not a very nice guy, his scenes are
gripping.
There are also some wonderfully
insolent Servingmen. This isn’t one of Shakespeare’s comedies (now, there’s an
understatement!), but the Servingmen are great.
But let’s not take anything away from
the actors in larger roles. King Henry VI is just a kid in this opera and he
has various dodgy Regents trying to get him to do whatever they want. Amy
Bradney-George makes him sound very young, diffident and naïve. You can tell
he’s been brought up to make speeches, but he really doesn’t like making them.
It’s a very touching performance, but at the same time, you really worry for
him! (With good reason, considering what happens in the other plays…)
David Meadows is very interesting as
Plantagenet, who later becomes known as York. He can seem quite relaxed and
funny, but he’s got his agenda, just like the others. Edgar Wegner’s Warwick is
another who shows different sides to his personality, which foreshadows what
happens in the later plays. Aaron T. Moore is compelling as Gloucester and
Matthew O’Sullivan gives you chills as the cold, cruel Winchester. Alexis Danan
is very smooth as Charles the Dauphin, though not quite as smooth as Charles
thinks he is.
There aren’t many female roles in this
play, but they all make their presence felt. In addition to the aforementioned
the Countess of Auvergne, there’s a young lady called Joan la Pucelle, whom you
might know better as Joan of Arc. Alicia Berard has a delicate prettiness and
she almost fools us into thinking Joan is quite gentle. But assume that at your
peril! There’s steel under the surface and she doesn’t care if she cuts you.
Then there’s Céline Devalan as the bewitching Margaret of Anjou. Just watch the
effect she has on one of the main characters (it’s near the end so I won’t say
who, but he’s brilliant). The scene is hilarious and sizzling at the same time.
It’s another great performance from
the International Actors Ensemble – and I don’t doubt there are more to come.
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