Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Alex Hassell, Oliver Ford Davies, Antony Byrne, Sean Chapman, Simon Thorp, Joshua Richards, Jennifer Kirby, Jane Lapotaire, Keith Osborn, Andrew Westfield, Daniel Abbott, Martin Bassindale, Nicholas Gerard-Martin, Robert Gilbert, Jim Hooper, Sam Marks, Dale Mathurin, Christopher Middleton, Evelyn Miller, Sarah Parks, Leigh Quinn, Obioma Ugoala, Simon Yadoo.
Following on from David Tennant’s portrayal of Richard II, and Jasper Britton’s turn as Bolingbroke, Henry IV, the R.S.C. concludes it’s King and Country series with the reign of Henry V, in the 600th anniversary year of the battle of Agincourt, portrayed here by Alex Hassell, reprising the role following a successful run as Prince Hal in both parts of Henry IV.
Gregory Doran’s exploration of this sequence of monarchs has Henry V following on from two neurotic portrayals of his fallible kings, with Tennant’s Richard constantly fretting the betrayal of his subjects, and Britton’s Henry fearing deposal in much the same way as he seized the crown. Hassell’s variant of a King is in many ways more confident than either of the aforementioned, but Doran’s production is decidedly understated. It chooses to remove the glorious call to arms of several of the play’s rousing speeches, instead choosing to allow Hassell to perform on an empty stage during the siege of Harfleur. Far from having to shout over his terrified troops, weary after a bloody assault on the castle, Hassell instead engages the audience in a conversational request for bravery and glory, and charging off into the dark wings.
Doran keeps to his pre-show promise of presenting neither a pro nor anti war stance, instead choosing to make Henry V a play about a young king uncertain of his choices. The previously cocky Prince Hal is unnerved by the addition of responsibility, but portrays the courage lacked by his predecessors in order to inspire an unlikely victory, and the struggles of both lords and peasants when faced with the reality of war.
Special commendation goes to Oliver Ford Davies, an R.S.C. veteran who brings both gravitas and humour to the role of the chorus. Joshua Richards’ Welsh captain Fluellen provides excellent comic relief to the play, and the indomitable Jane Lapotaire commands the stage as the despairing Queen Isobel, as only a stage legend can.
The play may lack the wow factor that its war-torn setting can provide, but instead it offers a very real world of bravery and sacrifice, that makes the production another triumph in the R.S.C.’s repertoire.
Henry V runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre until October 25th. It is shown live at Cinemas on Wednesday October 21st, and the R.S.C.’s “King and Country” series, Richard II, starring David Tennant as Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Starring Anthony Sher as Falstaff and Jasper Brittain as Henry IV, and Henry V, starring Alex Hassell as Henry V, will run at London’s Barbican Theatre between November 7th 2015-January 14th 2016.
Danny Partington