Photo Coverage: Henry IV Part I at the Lantern

Lantern Theater Company concludes its 2009/10 mainstage season with the rarely performed Henry IV, Part I. In the tradition of the Lantern's darkly comic, Barrymore Award-winning production of Richard III, this gripping, ripping plot from William Shakespeare's history canon features a cast of local actors and battles royale that will transport you to another time and place. Previews began April 1, opening night is Wednesday, April 7 at 7pm, and the closing performance is May 2, 2010.

King Henry, having seized the throne of England from his tyrannical cousin, finds himself in a political hornet's nest. As trouble brews, he is horrified to see his own son and heir keeping company with thieves, drunkards, and whores. Witness the tug of war for the soul of young Prince Hal between his tortured, guilt-ridden father and Sir John Falstaff, a charming and insinuating rogue. As Hal wavers, the King's ambitious enemies, led by the dazzling young Hotspur, are on the rise. Prince Hal must make hard choices and face his fears as civil war threatens to swallow up the kingdom.

Peter Pryor takes on competing father figures Henry IV and the morbidly obese Falstaff. Pryor has received fifteen Barrymore Award nominations and three awards, including Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play for the Lantern's Richard III; other recent Lantern credits include Shakespeare's Othello and Pinter's The Hothouse. Allen Radway (Prince Hal) has 35 productions to his credit, most recently at Simpatico Theatre Project where he will take over as Artistic Director this fall. Returning to the Lantern for this production are Andrew Kane (Hotspur), Jered McLenigan (Douglas/Mortimer), Tim Moyer (Northumberland), and Russ Widdall (Westmoreland/Glendower). The nine-person cast is rounded out by Lantern newcomers Mary Lee Bednarek (Lady Mortimer/Mistress Quickly), David Blatt (Worcester), and Rachael Joffred (Lady Percy).

All photos by Mark Garvin.

For more information please see the official press release.