Little Fish Theatre today announced the opening of Shakespeare's HENRY IV PART 1. Shakespeare reflects on the consequences of actions, the role of princes and the realities of possessing power in what is considered one of his most popular history plays. Fans of Shakespeare by the Sea, Little Fish Theatre's celebrated summer Shakespeare festival will be delighted to see the Bard's works coming to Little Fish.
Henry Bolingbroke, now King Henry the IV, is having an unquiet reign. His personal guilt at the murder of his predecessor Richard II, the wars mounting on his borders, and his increasing conflict with his nobles are weighing on him. To add to King Henry's troubles, his son and heir, Hal (the future Henry V), has abandoned the court for common taverns, where he consorts with mischievous friends, making him an object of scorn to the nobles and calling into question his future as King of England. Hal's chief friend and foil in living the low life is an old drunkard, Sir John Falstaff, one of Shakespeare's most celebrated characters. Will Hal face up to his royal responsibilities? Or will he forsake his father and his duty to pursue his own pleasure.
This show will feature several Shakespeare By The Sea regulars including Bryson Jones Allman (The Tempest, All's Well that Ends Well), Cylan Brown (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), Mark Rimer (King John),
Greg Prusiewicz (As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream), Bridget Garwood (The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, All's Well That Ends Well, King John), and
Robert McHaffey (Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream). They are joined by Little Fish newcomers
Greg Nussen and Luke McClure.
"This is my favorite play in the entire Canon. Falstaff is Shakespeare's greatest comic creation.
Prince Hal is Shakespeare's action hero -- who even got two sequels! It's a history play that is as funny as any comedy and as gripping as any tragedy. It's perfect. My job is to not screw it up," jokes director Patrick Vest. "To that end, I have cast eight amazing actors to bring the play to life and to illuminate the relationships that lie within." Vest has directed multiple successful productions for Shakespeare by the Sea (As You Like it, A Midsummer Night's Dream, All's Well that Ends Well).
HENRY IV PART 1 will open Friday, September 25th and run Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm through October 24th. A Sunday matinee is scheduled for 2pm on October 18th, after which the creative team will be available for 10 to 15 minutes for post-show discussion with the audience.
Founded in 2002, Little Fish Theatre presents classic and contemporary plays in an intimate setting on Centre Street in downtown San Pedro. Producing eleven plays each year in a one-room 65-seat venue, Little Fish delivers the quintessential close-up theatrical experience, where audience and performers share space and sight lines, making for eruptive laughter, highly-charged action and palpable emotion.
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