War in France. In a field hospital, the khaki of the British Tommy or the blue of the French Thomas is much less important than the red of the blood that marks their injuries. When, as so often happens when combatants are thrown together and mutual respect and shared interests blossom, someone has the idea to put on Henry V, Shakespeare's history of the boy who became King, of his battle at Agincourt and of the reconciliation royal love brought to warring nations. Roll in some of AE Housman's elegiac poetry set to the beautiful music of Christopher Peake, and we have a Henry V that is true to its source, but given an extra layer of meaning, one hundred years on from Ypres.
Freddie Stewart is a young Henry, an earnest listener and man determined to do the right things by his God, his country and his conscience. Stewart's eyes sparkle in love and in the thrill of battle, but grow dull with worry when the burden of kingly responsibility weighs heavy. He's often within touching distance of the audience, so his fine, nuanced performance has no time for relaxation, for coasting. It's pleasing to see an actor cast in a Shakespearean role whose age suits the part so well.
There are the usual comic turns from Pistol (Mark Middleton), Bardolph (James Murfitt) and Nym (Alex Hooper) but the other standout performance comes from Floriane Andersen (one of many French actors playing French parts), whose Katherine is haughty enough to exact her price and sexy enough for Henry to pay it. And, boy! (or should that be garcon!), can she speak French quickly!
Though the venue, Temple Church, is extraordinary, the all-encompassing sense of history underlined by an exhibition of Templars at War displayed on its walls, the inevitably tricky acoustics and traverse stage make some of the words difficult to follow. Henry's famous "Once more unto the breach..." is staged with real brio by directors Ben Horslen and John Risebero, but, with Henry facing away from me, I struggled to pick up his rallying call in all its famous particulars.
A last word for the costumes and props - the best I have ever seen, fully convincing close-up, the cotton of the shirts a rough calico, the fatigues very... well, fatigued and the Lee-Enfield rifles impressive in their heft. If that
attention to detail can be brought to ensuring that everyone can hear every word comfortably, this production will fully merit its place as one of my favourite Henrys.
Antic Disposition's Henry V continues at Temple Church until 5 September.
Photo Scott Rylander
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