BWW Reviews: New Players Theater Does HENRY IV: PART ONE Justice

Appearing in rotation with its production of "The Taming of The Shrew" as part of their summer series at Mill Run Amphitheater's "Island", "Henry IV: Part One" is one of Shakespeare's history plays, but this version is also one of the more accessible Shakespeare productions I have seen in awhile. The storyline, as written by the bard, is admittedly a bit dry at times, but this particular production is acted with gusto, and the plotline is easily understandable, even without the program synopsis. The tale centers around the universal themes of family and duty, and is a coming of age tale of Hal, the Prince of Wales who finds himself torn between living the life of the free and easy at Eastcheap Tavern with his buddies, or assuming the duty of protecting the kingdom of his father, King Henry IV.

Much of the show is carried by Hal, Prince of Wales, played by David Tull. Tull delivers a delightfully well-crafted performance, with plenty of energy and enthusiasm, and has quite a gift for imparting the meaning of some of the more difficult language of Shakespeare in a way that even my elementary school-aged daughter was able to comprehend. The show stealer, per Shakespeare's intention as well, however, is John Tener's Falstaff, a rogue of a knight, known for his frequent embellishment of the truth in his favor, who befriends Prince Hal. Tener is thoroughly entertaining, has a detailed command of his character, and executes a performance that is a delight to partake in. Rick Clark brings Henry IV to life aptly, though by construction, his character does not allow for much depth, so his performance appears less dynamic against some of the more richly scripted characters of the show. Another huge stage presence is that of Christopher Austin's character, Sir Henry Percy, also known as Hotspur, who is attempting to overthrow King Henry IV. Austin's booming voice, size, and solid grasp of his character create a worthy adversary, and enough maliciousness and ambition to drive forward the plot. Percy's uncle, and rebellion comrade, Ben Gorman's Earl of Worcester, is well-played as well. Smaller roles, including Austin Andres (Poins), Hunter Carty (Doll Tearsheet), Miles Drake (Vernon), John Feather (Northumberland), Erin Fisher (Lady Percy), Alex Foor (Westmoreland), Clifton Holznagel (Blunt), Levi McGrath (Mortimer), Mackenzie Wallace (John of Lancaster), Scott Willis (Glendower), and Christina Yoho (Gadshill) round out the cast, and all do a decent job of bringing their characters to life.

Costumes by Natalie Cagle are mostly period appropriate approximates, enough to look like convincingly budget-conscious options. Sound Design by Kevin McCarty makes the production easily heard in the outdoor space, but my only real complaint with this production is the insertion of cheesy, cartoonish sound effects that were often ill-timed, and largely unnecessary. When there was simple transition music, the production was enhanced, however the odd choice of sound effects otherwise was distracting. The Scenic and Lighting Design by Peter Pauze was simple, yet versatile, and appropriate as well, especially considering the outdoor stage and its necessary multiple uses.

I found this production much preferable to the company's concurrent staging of "The Taming of The Shrew", as this cast was well-rounded and had quite a good command of their characters, despite the fact that the storyline of this show was more challenging, which is a huge credit to Director, Robert Behrens. His knowledge of fight choreography was put to good use as well, as much of Act II involvEd Battles of various sorts, and the stage combat was exciting for the entire audience, and well-executed. I again applaud New Players Theater for making use of the Mill Run Amphitheater space, bringing a live outdoor theater option to the Northwest side of town that allows families to explore Shakespeare at the more than reasonable "Pay-What-You-Will" price. "Henry IV" is not only a bargain, but contains a talented cast that will give you a thoroughly enjoyable evening under the stars with Shakespeare.

"Henry IV: Part One" continue at the Mill Run Amphitheater at 3500 Mill Run Drive, Hilliard, 43206 for the remainder of its run on July 14, 18, 25-28 at 8pm. For additional information, go to: http://newplayers.org/

PHOTO CREDIT: New Players Theater

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