Henry IV is the Shakespeare play that's perfectly suited to the Globe. In Dominic Dromgoole's intelligent, faithful and entertaining new production, Sir John Falstaff, that "sweet creature of bombast", might have stopped for a pint of sack in Southwark en route for a rendezvous with Doll Tearsheet at the Boar's Head.
Starring Roger Allam as the swaggering, clownish mentor to Jamie Parker's Prince Hal (the "tutor and feeder of my riots"), the Globe's players deliver a delightful reading of Shakespeare's hit play of 1597, making it seem what audiences most desire: evergreen and universal.
The test of any Henry IV must be the transition from the knockabout comedy and provincial English violence of Part 1 to the sweet, haunting melancholy of Part 2. As well as being a showcase for the fat knight, a contemporary lord of misrule, and a not-so-subtle piece of Tudor propaganda, it must also tell the story of the transformation of the Prince of Wales from prodigal son into the puissant monarch who will shortly fulfil every English ambition and declare war on France.
The Globe rarely fails to inspire crowd-pleasing performances (the highlights of this production are Sam Crane's Hotspur/Pistol, Barbara Marten's Mistress Quickly and William Gaunt's Shallow), but Dromgoole also manages to measure out the pathos of the father-son psychodrama that's braided into the play. "I know thee not old man," is one of Shakespeare's most heartbreaking lines. Here, it comes as the poignant coda to a deteriorating relationship. Allam, known to many in the audience as the MP Peter Mannion from The Thick of It, displays a great comic actor's mastery of his role, gives the setpiece speeches with wit and authority, but also delivers some of Falstaff's most brilliant asides with perfect timing.
Dromgoole has come up with a show to rival anything from his predecessor, Mark Rylance. Shakespeare lovers looking for an authentic rendering of an English classic should hotfoot it to Southwark to catch a memorable night's work.
You have characters left
Please read our community standards.
Closing this window without pressing "Post your comment" will result in your words being lost.
Are you sure?
Thank you for your comment. This has been submitted for moderation.
Your comment has been successfully posted.
Sorry, something has gone wrong and this action cannot be completed. Please try again later.