Australian Shakespeare Company
Athenaeum
Theatre, May 16 to 26, 2012,
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert on May 18, 2012
Stars:***
IT STARTS WITH HARD ROCK MUSIC, boozing and whoring, then political intrigue and
armed robbery is followed by pitched battle between rival gangs.
No, it’s not Underbelly or Bikie Wars, but Glenn Elston’s modernised production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I, that hurls into the 21st century, Prince Hal (David Lamb), his rival, Hotspur (Tim Solly), and drinking buddy, Sir John Falstaff (Nick Backstrom).
No, it’s not Underbelly or Bikie Wars, but Glenn Elston’s modernised production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I, that hurls into the 21st century, Prince Hal (David Lamb), his rival, Hotspur (Tim Solly), and drinking buddy, Sir John Falstaff (Nick Backstrom).
Shakespeare’s language is
unchanged, but Elston updates the style and context with live video feeds, an
onstage band, political newsflashes projected on a huge screen and a bloody
battle fought with paint ball guns.
Lamb is attractive and
credible as Prince Hal, The Prince of Wales, a brash, dissolute, leather-clad,
womanising clubber who eventually reforms his ways to fight for his father,
King Henry (Kevin Hopkins), when dad’s power is threatened.
Backstrom as the infamous Falstaff, captures the
essence of this obese, corrupt and profligate old knight, but lacks the
charisma and bold comedy that often makes this role the star turn.
Tim
Solly enthusiastically tackles the role of Hotspur, the resentful hothead who
opposes Henry’s rule, but his performance lacks emotional range because he
shouts dialogue and misses the rhythm and meaning of Shakespeare’s poetic language.
Other
actors connect with the language with vocal and emotional power: Kevin
Hopkins as King Henry, Mick Cahill as Thomas Percy, Anthony
Rive as Poins and Westmorland, Charlie Sturgeon as Douglass (OK), and Ross Williams in a
cameo highlight as old Glendower.
The opening carousing in
the Boar’s Head Tavern and the final battle are the high points, and these
could be better balanced with the more static, speech-based episodes.
By Kate Herbert
Directed by Glenn Elston
Music - Peter Barry
Vocal Coach – Anna McCrossin Owen
AV/Sound./Lighting – Gordon Boyd
David Lamb -Prince Henry (Hal)
Nick Backstrom- Sir John Falstaff
Tim Solly -Hotspur
Mick Cahill -Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester
Kevin Hopkins- King Henry
Anthony Rive- Poins/Westmoreland
Ross
Williams -Glendower
Charlie Sturgeon -Douglass
Syd Brisbane -Henry Percy
Simon Mallory- Sir Walter Blunt
Dennis Manahan -Gadshill
Patrick Bath - Peto/band
Roscoe Mathers -Bardolph/band
Declan Mulcahy -Prince John
Carla Kissane -Mistress Quickly
Claire Nicholls -Lady Percy
Chrissie Brown- Tavern Dancer
Elisha Dedman -Tavern Singer
Belinda Misevski - Tavern Singer
Miranda D’Unienville - Tavern Dancer
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