By Cal
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXZ5AKrieXQ
Available until: Unknown
The International Actors Ensemble
continue their Henry VI series with a really incredible production of
the second part. This play is seen by many as the best of the three and it’s
believed to be the first Shakespeare wrote. It shows a slightly older Henry,
trying to keep control of his kingdom as almost everyone he knows seems to be
against him.
I’ve seen it twice before and really enjoyed it, but it is this production that has made me realise what an emotional play it is. I think Shakespeare’s tragedies tend to be seen as his more emotional plays (with good reason), but even though the hero survives this one (not a spoiler, I’ve already told you there’s a Part III!), he doesn’t exactly enjoy himself and there are a lot of individual tragedies for some of the other characters.
Shakespeare has been really clever
with his writing because some of the characters who suffer are either
characters we don’t like or characters we barely know, but he fills his writing
with emotion which is so brilliantly delivered by this cast, it felt like I was
watching Hamlet or Othello or something. It’s a really sad play!
The International Actors Ensemble have
kept the same cast as last time – some return in other roles and a few new
actors come in, but if a Part I character also appears in Part II, they’re
played by the same actor. Although I have chosen to review them as three
separate plays, it is nice to have the continuity.
Amy Bradney-George is back as Henry VI
and gives the King a little more confidence and maturity, though he’s clearly
still not happy as a King and not always sure what to do. It’s really sad to
watch how much he suffers. He’s maybe not the best King, but unlike most of the
other characters, he does seem like quite a nice guy who isn’t out to
double-cross or murder everyone. And that is quite unusual in this play!
Aaron T. Moore really comes into his
own as the Duke of Gloucester. There are some strong, powerful speeches early
on, but then we really get to see his human side when he discovers what his
wife has done. Khlar Thorsen as his Duchess is equally moving as the two
realise they do actually quite like each other after all. Another marriage that
isn’t going terribly well is Henry’s own. Céline Devalan is magnificently
horrible as the cheating Queen Margaret, but she still manages to summon up
some sympathy towards the end. Matthew O’Sullivan’s Bishop of Winchester is
another character I enjoyed hating in Part I, but his regrets in this
play seem genuine. Karol Garrett also deserves a special mention – she plays
many roles and her Spirit is particularly effective.
As the Earl of Warwick slowly creeps
towards the forefront of the story – he’ll be centre-stage in Part III –
Edgar Wegner seems to gain in stature. He seems to develop the character
slowly, but I suspect Warwick was always the same man – he’s more biding his
time and waiting for his opportunities and when they come, he grabs them and
becomes a more prominent figure.
But the character I perhaps remember
this play for most is Jack Cade and it’s always a surprise how little he’s
actually in it. Angelique Malcolm was incredible as the Countess in Part I and
it seems impossible that such a grand, feminine woman could really be the
laddish Jack. (Though I’m actually yet to see a man play this role – in three
productions, it’s always been a woman and they’ve all been really good.) The
one thing Angelique’s Jack has in common with her Countess is the incredible
energy and very strong characterisation, but they really could not be more
different. Jack is fun, cheeky, and he might just kill you. If you’re his
friend, you’ll probably have a great time, but if he’s your enemy, you’ll need
to watch out. I only wish Elizabeth I had asked for another Jack story, the way
she asked for another Falstaff story. Such a brilliant character with the
perfect performance from Angelique.
The whole cast was excellent, with the
large ensemble popping up in small roles, including a couple of princes who
will have a very big role to play in England’s future. Montgomery Sutton
doesn’t have very much to do as Richard Plantagenet Jnr, but he does it with
great style. Monty has played numerous roles for Shakespeare Happy Hours and
usually manages to bring charm to even the most dubious characters, but he
makes an exception here. Richard is odious and I can’t wait to see more of him.
The great news is that (real life
permitting), I’ll only have to wait a couple of days. If Part III is
half as good as this one, I’m in for a treat.
No comments:
Post a Comment